Maurice Bourges-Manoury, former Premier of France, received today the same golden emblem signifying service in the Haganah, Israel’s underground protective force and the basis of its present army. M. Bourges-Manoury was honored at a parade and ceremony which accompanied the presentation of service emblems to 1,500 Haganah veterans.
Yesterday, Bourges-Manoury was received by President Itzhak Ben Zvi after a tour of Elath and a hearty welcome by Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and other Israel officials on his arrival. The Prime Minister hailed the French official as the “architect of Franco-Israel friendship.
Hundreds of persons, including Israel defense leaders, were at the airport to give M. Bourges-Manoury a welcome which topped in cordiality even receptions for visiting state officials. The French visitor as Defense Minister signed the agreements for the supply to Israel of French Mystere jet planes and other heavy weapons before the Sinai campaign.
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