President Georges Pompidou told assembled foreign diplomats last night that “fighting in the Middle East may break out anew at any moment” and that “a just and lasting peace” in that region was nowhere in sight. Pompidou addressed the diplomats who had come to the Elysee Palace to present their good wishes for the New Year. Among them was the Israeli Ambassador, Asher Ben Natan with whom Pompidou will meet this Thursday to try to break the dead-look over Israel’s 50 embargoed Mirage jet fighters.
Pompidou characterized the Middle East as one of the world’s areas of tension and gave a somber appraisal of the situation. Walking among the ambassadors later, he spoke briefly to Ben Natan saying he wished Israel “peace” for 1972, He also talked at length to the Egyptian Ambassador and other Arab diplomats. Pompidou’s meeting with Ben Natan later this week will be over reimbursement to Israel for the 50 Mirages embargoed since the Six-Day War. Israel agreed in principle last year to accept monetary reimbursement for the planes but after three months of negotiations on an ambassadorial level the two sides were reportedly far apart as to terms.
French sources said Pompidou intends to use the talks with Ben Natan as an opportunity to normalize France-Israeli relations on a broader scale in all political fields. Their talk will be held in all political fields. Their talk will be held in private. Sources said the issues to be raised include the European Common Market and the overall Middle East situation. Israel has asked to be included on the ECC’s list of underdeveloped countries. France so far has balked. Israel would like France to abstain from any new diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East.
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