France Eyes New Israeli Ties

PARIS (AP) — His embrace of Israeli President Shimon Peres spoke of more than personal chemistry: Nicolas Sarkozy wants to rebuild France's frayed ties with Israel, notably by echoing its tough stance against Iran.

Peres' five-day trip to Paris this week is the first state visit the French president has hosted since taking office 10 months ago — itself a potent message of support at a time of renewed Middle Eastern tensions.

And during a pomp-filled dinner Monday, Sarkozy lost no opportunity to assure Peres of his friendship, saying France will always work to ensure Israel's survival.

"Not from time to time, Mr. President — always," said Sarkozy. "And those who call in a scandalous, scandalous way for the destruction of Israel will always find France in front of them to block their route."

France's gushing display for Peres was a clear effort by Sarkozy to get past often-turbulent ties during President Jacques Chirac's tenure.

Paris lined the Champs-Elysees with French and Israeli flags — an image not lost on many French Jews, who feel Sarkozy's penchant and support for Israel is heartfelt.

Joel Mergui, president of the Jewish consistory in Paris, said the decorations gave him a "deep feeling of joy, especially at a time when you sense that it's not just about flags."

"It corresponds to something stronger between Israel and France," he said at a Paris ceremony attended by Peres on Monday honoring eight people killed at a Jerusalem seminary last week. "It corresponds to something more profound that is being created."

Symbolism aside, Sarkozy said at the state dinner that Israel "is not alone" in its concerns about Iran's nuclear program, which will require "a reaction of great firmness."

Some Western countries fear Tehran's nuclear program is a cover for bomb-building ambitions, but Iran has repeatedly insisted its plans are to generate electricity.

Political analyst Dominique Moisi said France has hardened its policy on Iran as a diplomatic effort to forestall any Israeli military action. Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said last week that Israel has the firepower to defend itself against any Iranian threat, indicating a willingness to use force if necessary.

"The French are concerned about the possibility that Israel would choose a pre-emptive attack on Iranian nuclear installations — and for them to speak tough on Iran is the way to prevent that scenario," Moisi said.

"If you want to not have to act tough, you have to speak tough, and speaking tough has a dual goal of calming the Israelis and impressing on the Iranians the fact that we are serious," he said.

Sarkozy also said France, during its presidency of the European Union later this year, will monitor the planning for the U.N. anti-racism conference scheduled to take place in South Africa in 2009.

He said he "will not stand" for a possible replay of "intolerable deviations" that could mar the so-called Durban II conference like ones in 2001, when Arab and Muslim nations criticized Israel — prompting Israel and the United States to walk out in protest.

France is home to western Europe's largest community of Jews, estimated at about 600,000, as well as its largest Muslim population — more than 5 million, mostly from France's former North African colonies.

The new amicable mood is a far cry from 2002, when then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called on French Jews to immigrate to Israel after a string of attacks on Jewish graveyards and other signs of anti-Semitism in France. Sarkozy, then interior minister, insisted France was not anti-Semitic.

The culmination of Peres' visit comes Thursday, when he inaugurates a book fair honoring Israeli literature. The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has urged its 50 member countries to boycott the fair, insisting that Israel should not be honored at a time of "atrocities, oppression and imposed starvation and siege against the Palestinian people."