President Francois Mitterrand condemned Israel today for its military operation in Lebanon and said France will not attend the next meeting of the Franco-Israeli Mixed Commission,
Mitterrand, addressing a press conference, extended on icey invitation to Israeli Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir who is due in Paris next week. He said “if the Israeli Foreign Minister wants to come, the French government will listen to an explanation. Any explanation in a clear and honest language is suitable.” Shamir is due here next Monday as the guest of French Foreign Minister, Claude Cheysson. The Israeli embassy here said that as far as it knows Shamir does not intend to cancel or change his plans.
The French President’s cancellation of the Mixed Commission meeting apparently refers to a session of the commission’s sub-committee for cultural affairs due to meet Monday in Jerusalem. He said such a meeting is “not suitable while fighting goes on.” The Israeli embassy said it has received no notification of this step.
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