The trial begins today. It manages to combine a number of huge issues in one seemingly small package: Palestinian fauxtography, the role of the mainstream press in promulgating it, how to distinguish between what is truth and what is propaganda, and the defamation laws of the French legal system. The overarching question, of course, is whether justice and truth will prevail.

The good news is, early reports are encouraging. Neo:

Francophiles should be happy, and those who love truth and justice should be cautiously optimistic as well. The verdict will be delivered on October 19, and a few days later the second trial against the second defendant will begin--that is, if there is a second trial.

Her optimism comes from the reports of Nidra Poller:

The trial was almost the opposite of what I expected. I thought the issue was going to get laminated in legalese, evaporated in ennui, entangled, garbled, swallowed up under the high ceilings of the 17th Correctionel Chamber of the Tribunal de Grande Instance. No, it was a genuine debate conducted in a civilized manner by intelligent responsible citizens aware of the importance of every word they uttered. Except, of course, for the Plaintiff, France 2-Chabot-Enderlin, who apparently thought they could flitter through the court with the same arguments and the same methods they have been using for the past six years to cover up the cover up. The presiding judge and his two associates (I’ll get the details straight tomorrow) were human, humane, attentive. Especially the judge. He listened attentively, smiled, put people at ease, engaged in no silly manners or intimidating attitudes. The prosecutor, was bright, forceful, and forthright. Her name is Madame Halimi-Selam (more on that later). If the judge follows her appreciation of the case, Karsenty will win. He is free to ignore her interpretations and recommendations but I don’t think he will.

And Richard Landes:

The lawyer for France2 gave a strikingly lackluster speech in which she repeated the basic presentation that France2 (via Charles Enderlin) has been repeating for years, as if she had heard none of the witnesses, nor read any of the voluminous work that Philippe and his lawyer had prepared. She questioned the trustworthiness of the witnesses, summarizing their comments and dismissing their qualifications. I apparently said, euh… euh… that I didn’t know much, “and anyway, what does he know about images [and fakes], he’s a medievalist.” I never so reveled in lame criticism.

Then came Madame la Procureur de la Republique. ...

Read it all at the link. Let's hope this finishes as well as it has started.

Meanwhile, Arutz Sheva reports a congress of European philo-Semites:

A significant event aimed at developing a closer relationship between the European Union and Israel was launched in Brussels on Wednesday night. “European Friends of Israel” (EFI) unites those European and EU member state parliamentarians who wish to deepen the ties with the Jewish state.

Some 200 European and national parliamentarians, together with senior European officials, including European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero- Waldner and Elmar Brok MEP (Member of European Parliament), Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee for Foreign Affairs, participated in the event.

“Never have we seen parliamentarians from so many member states of the European Union, never have so many friends of Israel come together at the same time”, declared Gunnar Hצkmark, MEP, Chairman of the Steering Committee of EFI in the European Parliament and President of the Swedish-Israel Friendship Association. ...

“I believe EFI can help us change the debate in our parliaments, by both identifying and indeed helping many more colleagues who think like we do,” Hצkmark added. “The oppressed people of the Middle East are not oppressed by anyone else other than by their own oppressors. Not by Israel, not by US, not by European Union.” he concluded.

And finally, Regime Change Iran reports:

ench Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said on Tuesday that Iran had "made itself into an outlaw nation" and must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

"Iran does not have the right to try and acquire a nuclear weapon," Sarkozy said as he addressed a gathering sponsored by the French-American Foundation in Washington DC.

A prospective candidate in France's presidential election next spring, Sarkozy described the prospect of Iran possessing nuclear weapons as "terrifying".

He said the problem must be dealt with through diplomacy, but sounding much like US President George W Bush, he declared that "we must leave all options open." ...

Go to the NDTV link for the rest.