French Jewish leaders held groundbreaking talks with a radical Islamic group. Following a meeting Thursday at the offices of the CRIF umbrella organization of French Jews, Fouad Alaoui, secretary-general of the Union of French Islamic Organizations, told reporters that the talks had been “frank and calm.” Alaoui said both groups had to “live together in serenity and participate in bringing social peace.” He also condemned anti-Semitism, adding that “our religions were not created by God in order that there should be trouble in society.” Bernard Kanovitch, who heads CRIF’s Commission for Relations with the Muslim Community, described the meeting as of “great importance,” adding that the union’s representatives had “shown proof of great maturity.” The meeting came after CRIF’s president, Roger Cukierman, invited Alaoui to talk following a radio debate between the two men in July.
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