France’s close friendship and support for Israel within the context of a generally even-handed policy in the Middle East will be unchanged as a result of President Francois Mitterrand’s appointment of Jacques Chirac on Thursday to be the new Prime Minister.
A center-right coalition, consisting of Chirac’s neo-Gaullist Rally for the Republic (RPR) and the liberal Union for French Democracy (UDF), won 293 seats in Sunday’s parliamentary elections giving it an absolute majority on the 577-seat National Assembly. The Socialist Mitterrand, whose term expires in 1988, and the conservative Chirac, will be sharing power in the realm of foreign policy and other affairs of government. Both men are considered staunch friends of Israel.
They reportedly have agreed to name Bernard Raimond, a 60-year-old career diplomat, as Foreign Minister and Didier Bariani, a long-time friend of Israel, as Deputy Foreign Minister. Barigai’s sphere is expected to be European affairs.
BOTH SIDES ARE SUPPORTERS OF ISRAEL
Israelis and most members of the French Jewish community hold Mitterrand to be one of Israel’s best friends in Europe. He was, in fact, openly favored before the elections by his fellow member of the Socialist International, Israeli Premier Shimon Peres.
There is a general consensus between Mitterrand and the new parliamentary majority on most foreign issues, including the Middle East. Both sides support Israel’s right to exist within secure, recognized borders. They also favor Palestinian participation in peace talks and recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization as one of the main, if not the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
Mitterrand has enunciated these principles in various Arab capitals and in Jerusalem. His recognition of a PLO role was mitigated by his refusal to meet with PLO chief Yasir Arafat or to allow the PLO to hold an international “Palestinian peace conference” in Paris.
CHIRAC WORKED CLOSELY WITH JEWISH COMMUNITY
Chirac, who served as Prime Minister in the government of President Valery Giscard d’Estaing, developed a close working relationship with the Jewish community in Paris during his nine years as Mayor of the French capital, an office he currently holds. This is believed to have altered some of his positions on the Middle East.
As Premier from 1974-76, Chirac engineered French rapprochment with the Arab world. He negotiated the sale of a nuclear reactor to Iraq, which Israel destroyed in an air raid in June, 1981. He was a personal friend of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Now, Chirac is considered to be the French politician closest to Israel and to Jewish organizations. He visited Israel in December, 1984. He told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency at the time that he had turned down invitations to visit Syria “as long as Syria’s Jews are not free to leave the country.”
Chirac, 53, is one of the main contenders for the Presidency of France. His associates say he counts on Jewish support. A majority of Jews voted for Mitterrand in 1981.
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