A new source of friction between France and Israel developed over the weekend. Israeli President Ephraim Katzir called off a visit to Paris scheduled for next month because French authorities would not accord him the kind of welcome demanded by diplomatic protocol. Official circles here insisted today that Katzir would have been received “with all the honors due his rank.” They said the Israeli Embassy was informed that protocol would have been “fully implemented” for Katzir’s visit.
The intended visit was a private one. Katzir, an internationally known bio-chemist, was invited to attend a scientific symposium here in memory of his late brother, Aharon Katzir, who was a victim of the 1971-Lod Airport massacre. He is also to attend a similar event in Britain.
Israeli authorities maintained that even a private visit by a head of state required a measure of ceremonial pomp by the host country. They said that President Valery Giscard d’Estaing was prepared only to receive Katzir In his office for a talk and did not plan to tender a dinner or even a luncheon for him. Katzir’s office in Jerusalem issued a brief announcement yesterday that “In view of the circumstances created, the President has decided, upon the Foreign Minister’s recommendation, to travel only to Britain.”
French officials said today that protocol does not require a luncheon invitation for a private visit by a head of state,. They recalled that when Queen Elizabeth paid a private visit to France last June, she was not invited to meet with the President. Giscard was prepared to meet Katzir on June 21 but a luncheon or dinner were ruled out because the French leader is leaving on an official visit to Britain the next day, sources at the Elysee Palace said.
Observers here said today that the Israelis suspect France of trying to insult Israel while heaping honors on visiting Arabs. French sources accuse Israel of attempting to turn Katzir’s visit into an official occasion in order to strain France’s relations with the Arab states.
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