Foreign Minister Eban expressed the hope today that harmonious relations can be restored between France and Israel, “reflecting as they do, the feelings of the two peoples toward each other.” Mr. Eban’s remarks were the first comment by an Israel Government official on the resignation of President Charles de Gaulle.
“I don’t know what the future will bring, but the time is ripe for expressing and reiterating our wish that France will renew her traditional understanding of Israel’s needs and desires and thus contribute to the stability of the power balance in the area,” Mr. Eban said.
He said that Israel had long regarded Gen. de Gaulle as one of the most energetic and gallant fighters against Nazism. “For the first nine years of his political leadership of France, the ties between the two nations were forged against a background of mutual and deep public appreciation in both countries,” the Foreign Minister said. “This is why Israel viewed the changes that came about in May, 1967 as bitter and un-natural. But Israel has never given up hope that its relations with France will revert to their traditional spirit.”
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