French Firms Banned from Complying with the Arab Boycott of Israel

The French government issued an order yesterday making it illegal for French firms to comply with the Arab economic boycott of Israel. The order, which takes effect today, was issued by Premier Pierre Mauroy at the request of President Francois Mitterrand who had promised Jewish leaders during his election campaign to give priority consideration to this issue. Jewish leaders and pro-Israel economic circles here expressed their satisfaction with the new Administration’s legislation.

Anti-boycott legislation was adopted by the National Assembly in 1977. But the former Administration of President Valery Giscard d’ Estaing issued an executive order which in effect permitted French firms doing business with Arab countries to ignore the anti-boycott legislation “when France’s economic interests are at stake.”