French President Francois Mitterrand’s plane touched down at Ben Gurion Airport on the dot of the appointed time of two p.m., as four Israeli-built Kfir jet fighters roared overhead after escorting the official party from some scores of miles out at sea.
Mitterrand, although he has visited Israel several times in a private capacity, is the first French head of state ever to visit Israel as French President. Indeed, one official with a sense of history remarked today it was the first time in 772 years that a French head of state had visited the Holy Land — the last being Crusader Saint Louis IX in the 13th Century.
Heading the waiting dignitaries on the red carpet at the foot of the aircraft staircase were President Yitzhak Navon and Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the latter in a wheel-chair pushed by an aide. Begin sat in his chair most of the time, but rose to his feet briefly during the playing of the national anthems and exchanges of salutes.
A thin rain was falling during the welcoming exercises, strengthening later to a full downpour as visitors and hosts were sheltered under large umbrellas.
Greeting the French President, Navon, speaking in Hebrew (later translated into French), noted that “you are no stranger to us, and we are no stranger to you,” referring to the fact that Mitterrand had visited Israel frequently in a private capacity before. “But the official character of this visit makes it especially important,” Navon added.
WORDS OF FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGED
He noted that Mitterrand was coming to Israel at a time this country faced serious problems arising out of the Sinai withdrawal, which Israel was paying as part of the price for peace. Navon said Israel hoped that other Arab countries would join the peace process. He ended in French: “Welcome, Mr. President, You are at home here.”
Replying in French (later translated into Hebrew) Mitterrand said he was happy to be in Israel, this time on an official visit representing the whole of France, after previous private visits.
He said he hoped that his visit would help strengthen the friendship between the two countries which was “irreversible.”
“I have come to hold talks with you — and we have much to discuss,” Mitterrand noted. “We cannot be satisfied as long as there are any peoples or areas which have not yet reached peace between them.”
Pledging France’s help in reaching peace, Mitterrand declared: “Be assured, Mr. President, that a true friend has come to you today — and I say that on behalf of the whole of the French people.”
Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Mitterrand was greeted by Mayor Teddy Kollek who offered him the traditional biblical bread, salt and wine at a brief ceremony near the Binyani Ha’ooma complex.
A BUSY SCHEDULE FOR MITTERRAND
Mitterrand will have a busy schedule during his 50-hour visit to Israel. Its highlight will be his address to the Knesset tomorrow morning, which will be followed by speeches by Begin and by Labor Alignment leader Shimon Peres.
Also, tomorrow he will have breakfast with Peres, an old friend and associate in the Socialist International, and will then visit the Yod Vashem Holocaust memorial where he will officially open an amphitheater and museum dedicated to Jewish resistance fighters of World War II. That will be followed by a visit to Mt. Herzl and the grave of Theodor Herzl. Mitterrand’s first political speech in Israel will be tonight at a State Dinner in his honor, hosted by Navon.
Following his Knesset speech, Mitterrand will meet with Begin and other senior ministers for a working lunch. He will visit the Hebrew University campus to receive an honorary doctorate and announce plans for a political science chair there in the name of the late Leon Blum, the pre-World War II Jewish Socialist Premier of France. Another working session with Begin will be followed by a joint press conference with the Israeli Premier. Mitterrand will be guest of honor at a dinner given by Navon and Begin tomorrow night at the King David Hotel.
WILL VISIT VARIOUS SITES
On Friday morning, Mitterrand will take a helicopter trip to Acre to visit the Hall of Knights where King Philip August of France met with Richard The Lion Hearted in 1191, during the Crusades. He will also visit the gallows there where Jewish underground fighters were hanged during the British mandatory regime and will visit the Jewish ghetto fighters kibbutz and its Holocaust museum.
Mitterrand will fly to Tel Aviv to attend a reception at the French Embassy for the 1,500 French citizens living in Israel. Following lunch, he will drive to Ben Gurion Airport for an official farewell ceremony before he departs for France.
According to his published schedule, Mitterrand will not meet with representatives of the Arab population during his stay in Israel. He will not visit East Jerusalem or the West Bank.
MITTERRAND IMPRESSED BY BEGIN’S EXPOSITION
Shortly after his arrival in Jerusalem today, Mitterrand met with Begin and the Premier presented a lengthy and detailed exposition on the dangers of a Palestinian state to Israel. At one stage in their conversation the Premier called in the chief of army intelligence, Gen. Yehoshua Saguy to buttress the Israeli arguments on this key subject.
Begin’s press spokesman, Uri Porat, said this had been Mitterrand’s “first opportunity” to hear Israel’s case at the highest level, and he had been “very impressed.”
Porat said the conversation had focused on the Palestinian issue in both “negative” and “positive ” ways. Begin had first explained why a separate Palestinian state was anathema for Israel, and had then spoken at length of Israel’s autonomy proposal for the Palestinians, saying this held out the only practicable solution to the problem.
Porat said Mitterrand had “asked questions and sought to learn” and had not expressed his own views. The French President himself declined to talk to reporters after this opening session saying he preferred not to report on the talks in piecemeal fashion.
Meanwhile, at the Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir of Israel and Foreign Minister Claude Cheysson of France discussed plans to revive the joint commission between the two countries, which has not met for 10 years. It is to convene in the spring, and study, among other things, projects for joint industrial research.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
