Israel’s bid for French support for some sort of Israeli association with the European common market was politely but firmly rebuffed by a leading French Government official last night.
The request was put to Pierre Jeanneney, French Trade Minister, by Pinhas Sapir, Israel’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, during a lengthy conference. The Israeli official described the dire consequences for Israel’s economy because of its exclusion from the increasingly more close-knit six-nation economic community.
Emphasizing that the problems could become acute after the admission of Britain, now one of Israel’s best customers, Mr. Sapir said that the present provisions of ECM amounted to a boycott of Israeli products which would be barred by stringent ECM tariffs from entering friendly countries.
The French official was understood to have expressed his understanding of the growing problem but also to have stressed the wider aspects of the situation and the need to consult with other ECM members, as well as French economic factors. However, he did give assurances that France would do everything possible to increase imports from Israel.
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