Channels

Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO
Sharon meets French prime minister
Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO
Photo: AFP
Sharon and Chirac meet in Paris
Photo: AFP
Photo: AP
Will his visit improve relations with France? Sharon lands in Paris
Photo: AP

'We haven't seen the worst of terror'

Prime minister meets with Chirac, De Villipen in Paris; discusses pullout, Hizbullah, Iranian nuclear threat; Sharon thanks French president for fighting anti-Semitism, calling him 'one of the world's greatest leaders'

PARIS - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon continued his series of diplomatic meetings in Paris Wednesday, and met with French Prime Minister Dominique De Villepin.

 

The two discussed several issues, including the pullout plan, Hizbullah and Iran’s nuclear threat.

 

The French prime minister was interested to hear Sharon’s opinion regarding suicide bombings in Europe, as “a person with experience.”

 

“It’s a new phenomenon, but we have not yet seen the worst of it,” Sharon told De Villepin. “Today they are doing it with conventional weaponry, tomorrow they’ll do it with unconventional weaponry, which could result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.”

 

Sharon told his host that terror throughout the world is motivated by "world Islamic jihad.”

 

In response, De Villepin said, “France will always stand behind Israel, when Israel acts to achieve peace.”

 

The Iranian threat

 

The two also discussed Iran's nuclear development.

 

Sharon said Israel believes Iran is closer than ever in achieving nuclear capabilities.

 

France is determined to prevent Iran from nuclear weaponry, De Villipen said in response to his Israeli counterpart.

 

"After a meeting we are planning to hold with them (Iran) soon, we will know if there is option - if there is a need to present it before the U.N. Security Council,” De Villipen said.

 

While Sharon said Israel supports Lebanon and its quest for democracy, he did say it would not be effective as long as Hizbullah continues to operate in the country, contradicting the government’s democratic values.

 

Meeting with Chirac

 

Earlier, Sharon met with French President Jacques Chirac Wednesday, as part of a four-day diplomatic visit to Paris, Sharon's first trip to the country since taking office in 2001.

 

Both leaders took great measures to demonstrate friendliness and warm relations between the two, after the French gave Sharon a warm welcome upon his arrival.

 

Sharon invited Chirac to visit Israel.

 

"Chirac was very happy," Sharon told reporters, however Chirac has not yet officially accepted the invitation.  

 

"I was pleased to receive the president's invitation to visit France," Sharon said at the beginning of the meeting. "I came to France at a difficult time when Palestinian terror continues to escalate and there are difficulties in Israel regarding the disengagement plan.”

 


Sharon and Chirac at the Elysee Palace in Paris  (Photo: AFP)

 

"But, in spite of these difficulties, I decided to come to strengthen the uniqueness that exists between Israel and France, which is very important to us.”

 

Sharon said that he is optimistic his visit would allow for the advancement of the Middle East peace process and thanked President Chirac for his fight against anti-Semitism.

 

“I came to show my gratitude to the French president, we view him as one of the world's greatest leaders," Sharon said. "I would like to thank the president for his determined fight against anti-Semitism and for his complete faith in strengthening ties between France and Israel.”

 

Chirac replied by saying he is interested in developing a diplomatic, economic and cultural friendship between the two countries.

 

"I'm determined to fight the negative phenomena of terrorism and anti-Semitism on the eve of disengagement," he said. "France is determined to strengthen Israel, and says it is important to advance the peace, and to promise security for the Israeli nation."

 

"On the eve of disengagement, I want to say that France is stands behind Israel and the Palestinian nation, and following this historic decision, we will assist in renewing the peace process in the framework of the road map peace plan."

 

The subject of Iran was also raised during Sharon’s meeting with Chirac.

 

“And France, as a leading country understands the danger of Iran acquiring nuclear capabilities, “ Sharon told Chirac.

 

In regards to the presence of Hizbullah in Lebanon, Sharon told his host that a country, which aspires to democracy, cannot have within it negative forces.

 

"Sharon: I'm not worried

 

A short time before the meeting Sharon’s aides received word of the Pulsa Dinura (death curse) ceremony over the weekend in which right-wing activists prayed for the prime minister’s death.

 

Sharon, with characteristic sarcasm, inquired how long it would take for the curse to be "realized."

 

When his aides responded that it could take decades, Sharon said, “Then I’m not worried.”

 

Sharon was "greeted" in Paris by a few hundred protesters who demonstrated against Israel‘s presence in the West Bank and Gaza. But the protest did not succeed in ruining the positive atmosphere.

 

'Time for detente'

 

A source close to the prime minister said France would like to again play an important role in the Middle East, and understands it can’t do so without "going through Jerusalem.”

 

French newspaper "Le Monde" declared on its front-page: “After years of bittersweet relations, the time for detente has arrived.”

 

In a similar spirit, "La Figaro" wrote: “France understood that it is risking long-term isolation if it does not listen to Israel. Israel for its part understands that without a stable relationship with France it won’t obtain anything - at least not much - in the European Union. Thus, both countries want to focus on what they share.”

 

Diplomatic sources told ynet that there is a will on the part of France to turn over a new leaf.

 

Sharon was warmly received in Paris, and his hosts arranged a respectable and impressive welcoming ceremony. A red carpet was rolled under his feet as he disembarked from the plane, and the guard of honor joined in the festive ceremony.

 

A diplomat in the Elysees Palace said, “Since Sharon was voted in, relations between the countries were cold, perhaps frozen. The Israeli media also denunciated what it saw as French policy mistakes.”

 

Le Monde mentioned an Israeli newspaper article from October 2003, which showed a photo of Chirac, under the headline: “Collaborator.”

 

The text below the photo said that Chirac “uncovered the face of French anti-Semitism.” The article came after Chirac failed to condemn the comments of the former Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahatir Muhammad, who said that “the Jews control America.”

 

Persona non grata?

 

Le Monde said the height of tension between the two countries was on July 18, 2004, when Sharon called on France’s Jews to immigrate to Israel due to the anti-Semitism raging in France.

 

Following the call, it was reported that Chirac declared Sharon to be persona non grata, though the report is denied by the Elysees Palace.

 

“Sharon never hid his intention to bring as many Jews to Israel as possible and that he saw France as a potential reservoir,” Le Monde said.

 

French diplomats said they believe that any call by Sharon for Jews to “return to the land of the forefathers,” would be low profile, to avoid upsetting his hosts.

 

The visit’s timing seems to be the product of a number of overlapping interests. France is close to national elections and is keen to show its influence on the Israeli-Palestinian sphere.

 

What Israel wants

 

Sharon is, for his part, was interested in creating "diplomatic credit" abroad for the disengagement program, by building ties with European leaders.

 

Sharon and Chirac were expected to spend much of their time discussing the disengagement, as well as what would occur on the day after pullout.

 

The two were also expected to discuss topics such as the disarmament of Hizbullah, the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon, and the Iranian nuclear threat.

 

Diplomatic sources said that relations with France have known highs and lows, and there’s no doubt that the warmth in relations is an important thing that should be advanced.

 

"The change in France’s relation to Israel comes from the disengagement program," a source said. "They understand that this is the only game in town, and that the route to becoming involved in the area passes through Jerusalem. They also understand that an unbalanced policy has to be changed.”

 

In advance of Sharon’s trip to Paris, the prime minister gave a number of interviews to French press agencies, in which he explained his call to French Jews to immigrate to Israel following a rise in anti-Semitism, a call that was interpreted by the French as an insult.

 

Diplomatic souces said that there is anti-Semitism in France, but Chirac is fighting hard against it, and the prime minister intends to thank him for that.

 

The prime minister highlighted many times that he is interested in encouraging French Jews to move to Israel, and at the same time, he’s interested in encouraging all Diaspora communities to do so.

 

- AFP contributed to the report  

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.26.05, 23:44
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment