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French press review 12 July 2014

Israeli mobilization to intensify airstrikes on Gaza attracts a flurry of reactions from the main national dailies. Le Figaro warns that the threshold of 100 killed on the Palestinian side has been crossed, as the conflict is appearing to escalate further.

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Libération’s correspondent in Tel-Aviv reports from a bus station in the city centre where enthusiastic reservists were lining up to be conscripted for the war against Hamas as the military decides to go ahead with a ground operation.

La Croix pays tribute to the forgotten heroines of the First World War who will be honoured during Bastille Day on Monday. The Catholic daily dug into its archives to bring out photographs of some of the thousands of mothers, wives and daughters who sacrificed their lives at the service of the fatherland. It recalls that the role of women in the war was often concealed and minimized, despite the fact that millions of them turned up by themselves to be conscribed and went on to serve the war effort as nurses, spies, and in arms factories. Millions of peasants also lost their lives serving as standing guards of the national territory.

Le Figaro is looking for someone who can stop Justice Minister Christiane Taubira before she sparks a revolt within the law enforcement community. The right-wing paper publishes excerpts of what it calls Taubira’s explosive project to reform juvenile justice in France. Le Figaro is particularly infuriated by her decision to scrap the criminal court for minors set up by ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy. Taubira plans to expand the age group to include 18 to 21 year olds and scrap the blanket rule of minors appearing physically in court. The right-wing publication calls this angelic, naïve optimism and the height of irresponsibility at a time when six out of ten young criminals are repeat offenders.

Left-leaning Liberation on its part is definitely pleased to announce that the upper house of parliament has robbed out the clause in the current anti-prostitution bill which seeks the penalization of sex workers clients. The paper says that the Senate judged the proposed crackdown on clients confirmed warnings made by associations addressing the issue.

And as Argentina and Germany prepare for a clash of the titans in Sunday’s final of the 2014 Football World Cup in Brazil , the sports daily l’Equipe profiles superstar Lionel Messi and German keeper Manuel Neuer who will be the great attractions in the battle for gold. The paper tips the German Mannschaft to win the World Cup. It will be a supreme clash, according to Le Figaro. The paper is casting lots for Argentina, claiming that the rather discreet Messi remains firmly in the road path trodden by his tumultuous compatriot Diego Armando Maradona.

Liberation says Brazilians would rather support the German executioner instead of their neighbouring rivals. It predicts more stress and clinical depression for the humiliated host nation if they lose tonight’s 3rd place final against Holland.

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