Letter from La Vigie dated 22 January 2025
Complaint against X
Some people are now advocating leaving X, formerly Twitter, the social network run by E. Musk. Over and above all the arguments, this project raises the question of the forum in which public and democratic debate should take place. We don’t always choose it. In the belief that they are resisting, some people are simply deserting it.
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The coveted Far North
D. Trump has caused a stir with his jokes about the Panama Canal, Canada and Greenland. Even if the form is not very diplomatic, the substance is very interesting because it reaffirms the old Monroe doctrine and reminds Europeans that the Arctic zone needs their attention, at the risk of losing even more importance. It’s up to us to rise to the challenge!
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Lorgnette: truce in Gaza
A ceasefire has finally been signed in Gaza, after months of negotiations. The bases were known and Tel Aviv only signed to please the new American president, D. Trump. The agreement provides for the exchange of hostages held by Hamas for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The Israeli government has already hinted that it will not respect the agreement for long. The government coalition is already on the rocks and it seems unlikely that the agreement will be respected to the end (33 hostages against 737 prisoners).
Above all, the agreement demonstrates Tel Aviv’s impasse, locked in a deadly conflict with no political prospects: no state in the region wants to take the Gaza Strip under its control, a reoccupation seems highly unlikely and Hamas remains in control. Tactical success has rarely led to strategic victory, especially when there is no political solution to offer. Unfortunately, the Gaza conflict is not over. The open-air prison will remain in place.
JOVPN
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