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French Catholic Leader Supports Israel Stand on Jerusalem Issue

November 5, 1953
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Strong support of Israel’s position on the internationalization of the Holy Places in Palestine was voiced here today by Father Riquet of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, following his return from a tour of Palestine.

Father Riquet, a wartime underground hero and a survivor of the Dachau death camp, is an important member of liberal Catholic circles in France and his opinions of the Palestine situation may influence the shaping of French policy in the Middle East.

Speaking at a meeting of the Sephardic section of the Zionist Union of France, Father Riquet described the Israeli army as “an army which defends the rights of man.” On the possibilities of achieving peace in the Middle East, he said: “I know that the Israelis want peace, but being peaceful is not enough to bring about peace. It is also necessary for one’s neighbors to be reasonable. I did not find the Arabs very reasonable.”

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