France Calls for End to Violence in the Middle East

France called today for an end to violence in the Middle East and urged all states “to respect democratic freedoms so as to halt the chain of violence and repression.” The government statement was issued by Presidential spokesman Pierre Beregovoy after a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Francois Mitterrand.

France, the spokesman said, disapproves of “any unilateral measures imposed an any state or people.” Beregovoy stressed that this was standard French policy and applies to all issues in the area.

The official statement was couched in highly diplomatic terms apparently in order to try and take into account the Arab stand without provoking, however, Israel or the local Jewish community.

The government last Sunday lost the regional provincial elections to the center-right and certain leading Socialists believe that many Jews who had voted for Mitterrand last year have since switched their vote. Socialist leaders reportedly privately urged Foreign Minister Claude Cheysson to avoid giving offense to the Jewish community.

Cheysson yesterday, apparently in response to these pleas, issued a carefully worded statement terming the situation on the West Bank and Gaza “important and dramatic,” but avoided assigning blame to any of the parties.

The Arab ambassadors in Paris are due to meet Cheysson tomorrow to urge France to take a more energetic stand. Arab League representative Mohammed Yazid has said the Arabs hope France will make its influence felt to stop the violence and press Israel to permit outsted El Bireh Mayor Ibrahim Tawil to return to his former post.