Insulting actions against Islamic sanctities areprecedented in France. However, the French president and other authorities’ support for the unseemly and insolent actions of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in publishing the great prophet Muhammad’s cartoons has distinguished this incident from other past incidents. For sure, the position of the French president and government is not solely for defense of freedom of speech and they pursue other purposes behind their support for the Charlie Hebdo. Domestically, Macron is trying to attract more votes in the French 2022 presidential election. By attaching Muslims, he tries to draw a considerable part of the public votes of the right-wing current to his benefit. Regionally, understanding the US Israeli antagonism to the idea of a two state solution to the middle east crisis, he is trying to strengthen France’s competence as a US-approvedactor  in this region.

The Charlie Hebdo magazine published the insulting cartoons of Islam’s great prophet once again. Unfortunately, this heinous action is precedented, but what has distinguished this act is the support of the authorities and all out backing of the French president of this indecent act. Now , the question is why the French government and Macron himselfare supporting such provocative actions against Muslims? Is, indeed, it for freedom of speech or there are other aims behind Macron’s action?

In the new US approach toward the middle east named the”Ofshore Balance” which intends remote watching and controlling of the region, there must be another US-approved actor to fill the void of the US physical absence. The US pullout and need for insuring stability in this region require  final settlement of the chronic Arab-Israeli problem, for this, the Deal of Century aims at ending this crisis and permanently  closing the Palestinian/Israeli two state idea. It seems that the Europeans , too, have come to the conclusion that the security and stability of the region is in forgetting the two state idea. Therefore, regarding its historical colonial records in the region, compared to other European states,France enjoys a better standing for action. By playing a balanced role in the region, this country tries to prove its competence for filling the void of the US physical absence. In this regard, France’s proactivity in the foreign policy sector , especially in the west Asia region- of which the Lebanese case is a clear example- as well as its support of anti-Islamic  insulting provocations of the Charlie Hebdo magazine is worthy of thought and analysis.

In a speech, recently, Henry Kissinger rejected the idea of Biden’s regional change as illusion. This is an indication for the Europeans that the regional foreign policy of the US will not change track by change of the republican and democratic administrations. Therefore, the three European states, especially France, by understanding  this reality and taking an approach suggesting some sort of proximity and closeness to the US positions,  are setting  their regional clock according to that of Washington. With this premise, I will return to the above question that what aims are behind Macron’s action? The answer could be stated in several sections.

National Goals:

• Macron’s efforts to draw the votes in the 2022 French presidential election: Macron tries to emphasize ethnic issues, including his attacks on the Muslim’s positions, to draw a large part of the public votes of the right wing current( according to the polls, Macron’s popularity has increased after his recent positions).
•  Macron’s efforts to enact the bill “ FightingIslamist Separatism” in the French parliament:  The Francois Hollande’s administration , the former president, proposed  a bill to the parliament aiming at countering financing Franc’s Islamic centers by foreign states which was not approved. Macron is attempting to bring the bill once again to parliament. Current circumstances bode well for approval of the bill.
•  The French politicians are pretty aware of the fact that Muslims’ deletion from the social and political scene isimpossible, as a result, the approaches must be aimed atethnic transformation of the Muslims. In fact, France seeks some sort of French Islam which is not in contradiction to its secular discourse readings.

Transnational Goals:

•  Europe’s effort to exploit the Muslim world weaknesses to strengthen the Israeli position: By not properly reacting to the normalization of the Arab-Israeli relations by the muslims, the French politicians have become more keen on taking tough stances against Islam and paving the way  for ignoring the Palestinian rights. According to some polls administered by European polling centers, Islamic concerns regarding the religious and ethnic norms and presumptions have tangibly decreased  and the muslims ever more pursue their economic and social matters.
•  Security and stability in the middle east region are vital and necessary for Europe. Europe’s understanding , after several decades of failed efforts has come to the realization that materialization of security and stability is dependent on solving the Israeli problem and the two state idea, owing to numerous causes, the most important of which being the Israeli and American  opposition, is practically impossible. Therefore, Macron’s recent action can be regionally influential in strengthening France’s competence as an US-approved actor.
•  Regarding Erdogan’s  ambitions in the foreign policy sector and the tensions created in the relations between Turkey and France, Macron seeks to counter Erdogan and destroy his face among the Muslims.
•  The other perceived goal of the action taken by the French government is checking the pulse  of the Muslims public opinion in relation to the most sensitive and important subjects, that is the sanctity of the great prophet, which can be a good test for evaluating the muslim world’s reaction to the plan of the Deal of Century. The coordination and support of the German government and the UK prime minister for the positions and actions taken by Macron in the issue of the insulting cartoons is indicative of a plan and motive beyond freedom of speech, and the cause of it can be dividing roles in the future scenarios in the region, of course, by nod and green light from the US and Israel in the form of the ominous plans drawn for the middle east.

   (The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the IPIS)