French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe spoke Thursday on the hit-and-run that claimed the life of Lee Zeituni .Commenting on the escape of the accused Juppe said: "Strengthening the vitality of bilateral relations between France and Israel meansto take all measures to avoid misunderstandings. On this subject I must stress: Those responsible for killing of Lee Zeituni must be brought to trial."
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Zeituni was ran over in Tel Aviv on September 16, by Claude Isaac Khayat and Eric Robic, both French nationals. The two left her for dead, fled the scene and proceeded to flee the country mere hours later. They have since stated they do not intend to return to Israel and French law prohibits authorities from extraditing them.
The French foreign minister attended a dinner at the France-Israel Foundation. Commenting on the accident he said: "France is doing everything in its power to bring those responsible to justice. The police and legal system have cooperated with Israeli authorities to advance the investigation."
On the inability to extradite the two men Juppe explained: "French law prohibits the extradition of French citizens and launching legal proceeding against the suspects in France. Both Israeli authorities and the family can file a motion in France. It is the only way to prevent impunity, which is immoral and should be avoided."
- 70 MK's signed a formal letter calling on French President Nicolas Sarkozy to intervene and allow the extradition of the suspects. "We, the members of the 18th Knesset of Israel, who view France as a close friend of Israel, call on you to act in this painful matter, which clouds the important relations between Israel and France," the appeal said.
Labor Faction Chairman MK Isaac Herzog called on Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman to explain why the State has yet to file a motion to extradite Zeituni's killers. "We demand to know what can be done to prosecute them to the full extent of the law," he said.