Israeli Premier Shimon Peres was given a standing ovation today by French Senators and Deputies in the National Assembly, after he arrived earlier in the day for a three-day visit. This is the first time an Israeli Premier has visited France since David Ben Gurion.
Assembly Speaker Louis Mermaz and the president of the Franco-Israeli Parliamentary Friendship Group, Jean Poperen, both stressed that the welcome given to Peres symbolized France’s warm feelings for Israel.
Peres landed shortly before noon at Orly Airport where a company of Presidential guards presented arms. A military band played Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah, and France’s Premier Laurent Fabius personally welcomed the visitor.
Escorted by a fleet of motorcycle police, Peres was driven to France’s official residence, Hotel Marigny, a former Rothschild palace, usually reserved for visiting heads of state. This evening he will discuss Franco-Israeli bilateral relations with Fabius and the possible repercussions of Spain and Portugal entering the European Economic Community (EEC). Later in the evening, Peres will be guest of honor at a State dinner given by Fabius at the Quai D’Orsay.
Tomorrow, Peres and President Francois Mitterrand will confer privately for about an hour, before a formal lunch attended by Fabius and several other ministers. Among the subjects on the agenda are Lebanon, the EEC and especially, the new Israeli government’s hope to launch a new peace initiative with Jordan. Peres, diplomatic observers say, will probably ask for Mitterrand’s help in getting this process started.
FRANCE’S OBJECTIVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Peres is keen to induce King Hussein of Jordan to participate in a new peace process. Mitterrand, who has just had a series of meetings with Hussein, President Hafez Assad of Syria and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in Amman, Damascus and Cairo, is at the moment probably the Western leader with the widest contacts in the Middle East. He has even conferred with Col. Muammar Qaddafi of Libya whom he met in Crete last month.
All of this is in line with France’s outspoken desire to play an active role in the Middle East. The French realize that Israel, to a large extent, holds the key to French involvement. Mitterrand’s Socialist administration also believes that Israel’s new leadership is better able to open a new era of improved relations between the two countries.
Diplomatic sources said today that various plans for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon will be discussed during the Israeli leader’s three-day visit.
Peres will want to know to what extent France is prepared to participate in an expanded mission for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) which is expected to assume a greater security role in south Lebanon once Israeli forces pull out, the sources said. Peres is also interested in Mitterrand’s first hand impressions of Assad’s intentions.
Israel’s concerns over the forthcoming membership of Spain and Portugal in the EEC are based on the possible effects this will have on Israel’s agricultural exports to the Common Market countries. Franco-Israeli economic ties are also on the agenda. The Israelis hope for special measures that would stimulate French investments in Israel’s industries.
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