VIDEO - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni arrived Monday at the Knesset, where a festive reception was held in their honor.
In a sympathetic address at the Knesset plenum, the French president vowed that his country would always stand by Israel against those who call for its destruction. "Iran's nuclear program requires a firm response on the part of the international community. Israel is not alone."
He noted that a two-state solution would be required for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "Peace without a solution for the refugees' problem and without the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of two states."
He added that he supports the "evacuation-compensation" plan for settlers who will agree to leave their homes.
Expressing his firm stance against the Iranian threat, the French president said, "I reiterate here loud and clear, as far as France is concerned, a nuclear Iran is completely unacceptable.
"France is determined to continue to run, along with its partners, a policy combining worsening sanctions with openness, in case Tehran chooses to honor its international commitments.
"France is Israel's friend and will always stand by it when its security or existence are threatened. And those who scandalously call for Israel's destruction will always – always – be faced and blocked by France."
Festive reception. The Sarkozys with Knesset Speaker Itzik (Photo: Lior Mizrachi)
Sarkozy then spoke of Israel's significance to the Jewish people. "This is the only place in the world where everyone is certain that Jews will never be forced to wear a yellow patch."
The French president went on to cite a Bible verse: "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go up this mountain in the Abarim range and see the land I have given the Israelites" (Numbers 27:12).
"Jews across the world feel bound to their homeland. The fate of every Jews is tied to the fate of all other Jews. The fact that there is such a successful Jewish state in the world constitutes a source of honor and pride for each and every one of them.
"Because in Israel, Judaism is not defined out of the attitude towards anti-Semitism. Because for every Jew, this is the only place in the world where everyone is certain that Jews will never be forced to wear a yellow patch, where Jews will not be banned from travelling on buses, visiting the cinema and theatre and holding certain roles, and will not be forced to live in neighborhoods for Jews only or visit restaurants, stores and schools for Jews only."
He concluded his speech by saying, "France will not abandon you on the road. France admires you. Long live France, long live Israel."
Olmert thanks Sarkozy for firm stance
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert turned to Sarkozy and said, "In the coming month France will begin serving as president of the European Union. I am certain this will be an excellent opportunity to lead the EU, under your leadership, in a united and uncompromising stance against the Iranian nuclear threat."
Olmert thanked Sarkozy, saying that "we appreciate your declaration that Israel's security is not negotiable, and your firm stance in light of the Iranian nuclear danger, as Iran's president openly threatens to wipe Israel off the map."
He noted that "the Israel-France relations have seen ups and down over the past six decades. In the 1950s, when the young Israel faced waves of terror and extermination threats, and when its enemies were equipped with large amounts of improved weapons from the Soviet Union, France was one of the only states to stand by Israel and provide it with defensive arms."
Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik opened the special Knesset session by addressing the Iranian nuclear threat as well.
"This war is not on our house only – it is also a war on your house. You must not say in France: This terror won't hurt us, it won't reach us. This horrible terror has no boundaries. The nuclear facility prepared by Iran and by the Islamic terror in Europe and worldwide will also reach Paris after it reaches Jerusalem and Tel Aviv," she stated.
She concluded her address with the words "Vivre la France, long live the State of Israel."
Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu told the French president, "I can rule without hesitation that you are a true friend of Israel." He went on to say that "Jerusalem will never be divided, just like no person would ever think of dividing any European state. We will never return to the 1967 borders and will never withdraw from the Golan Heights."
His address was interrupted by Arab Knesset members when he said that "like in the battle against Nazism, the battle against radical Islam entails a firm alliance of all members of free world."
MKs Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al )and Mohammad Barakeh (Hadash )protested the comparison, and the Knesset speaker threatened to remove them from the auditorium.
Sarkozy later referred to this incident in his own address, saying "I hope that a speaker could be interrupted in the name of freedom of speech in every parliament in the world. This is what democracy is all about."
Earlier Monday, the French presidential couple visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem.
The Sarkozys received a bottle of wine created in Jerusalem and two candlesticks created by an artist from Sderot as a gift from the Knesset speaker. Bruni also received a pin in the shape of a peace dove.
'Settlements an obstacle towards peace'
On Sunday, Sarkozy met with President Shimon Peres and told him that Israel has "made some bad decisions, like the expansion of settlements and east Jerusalem, where the construction is not good for Israel." He added that "the best and only guarantee for the State of Israel is an independent, democratic Palestinian state at its side."
After the Knesset visit, Sarkozy was expected to meet with the parents of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit ,who is also a French citizen.
In an interview with the east Jerusalem-based al-Quds newspaper, published Monday, Sarkozy expressed his support for Jerusalem as the capital both of the State of Israel and of a future Palestinian state.
"Peace cannot be achieved without Jerusalem, and I believe its fate is to become the capital of two states – the Israeli and the Palestinians," he added.
In the interview, the French president expressed his faith in a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians and in an end to the regional conflict. He said his country sought to encourage the two governments to firmly continue the negotiations and make progress ahead of a permanent agreement before the end of 2008.
He added that the settlements constituted "a fundamental obstacle" towards peace and that Israel must freeze the settlement construction, including the construction for "natural growth" needs in the settlements and in east Jerusalem.
Sarkozy also called for an end to the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and urged Israel to remove roadblocks. At the same time, he added that his country rejected any dialogue with Hamas as long as the organization failed to honor the three conditions set by the Quartet.
Roee Nahmias contributed to this report
First published: 12:26, 06.23.8