France’s foreign minister told Jewish leaders that Europe wants to play a positive role in the Middle East peace process. At a meeting with European Jewish Congress leaders in Paris on Thursday, Michel Barnier once again suggested that France send a peacekeeping force to the Gaza Strip following an Israeli withdrawal from the area, the EJC’s secretary-general, Serge Cwajgenbaum, told JTA. Cwajgenbaum quoted Barnier as saying that Europe “didn’t just want to foot the bill” for a peace process, but wanted to be involved politically. Still, Jewish leaders said that financial assistance was where Europe could most assist in the peace process. “It’s necessary to give help and support to the Palestinians to assist them in finding the means to build their society and fight terrorism,” Cwajgenbaum said.
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