re: The Differences Are Obvious
First, France is counting on the international community to settle matters. Chirac can be a loudmouth at times, but he knows and the other EU countries know that he cannot decide for everyone. That's why France was for international agreements, right from the start.
Needless to say, the countries that felt offended by the US remarks now feel vindicated.
About the Palestinians:
If Israel could show more respect to the Palestinians, the latter would not feel so humiliated as to not even respect their own life and other's life.
And someone has to start the respect process (even if more terrorists could threat lives, after) and that's Israel.
Raoul