Despite France’s own economic difficulties she is ready to grant Israel sufficient credit to purchase from France those goods which Israel formerly bought from the United States, French Ambassador Pierre Gilbert told at Israel-French Friendship rally here last night. Representatives of all Israeli political parties were present except the Communists.
Ambassador Gilbert further pledged that France would supply Israel with all the equipment necessary to build a substitute by-pass for the Suez Canai. He held up France as a “proud” friend of Israel at a time when both the United States and the USSR have joined together to “save the Egyptian dictator.”
Friendship and support of Israel is becoming an integral part of French political life regardless of party, Shimon Peres, director-general of the Israel Defense Ministry, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today on his return from France. Mr. Peres was made an officer of the Legion of Honor in Paris in recognition of his activities in fostering Israeli-French friendship.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.