Rabbi Calls for Direct Talks with PLO

The Chief Rabbi of Colmar, one of the two chief rabbis of Alsatia, called today for direct negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organization and said he was not opposed to a meeting between PLO chief Yasir Arafat and French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing. Rabbi Simon Fuks is known as a Zionist and part of his family, including his children are reportedly living in Israel.

In a letter to the French Jewish weekly, Tribune Juive, the Chief Rabbi said. “Yes, we should open a dialogue with the Palestinians, including the PLO or, one should say, especially with the PLO and mainly with it.

“The fact that we are unconditional supporters of the existence of the State of Israel does not make us approve, with no reservations the policy of Israel’s government. “Fuks added: “As far as I am concerned, I fail to see why the President or the Prime Minister (Raymond Bane) should not receive (PLO leader) Yasir-Arafat. What really matters is what will be said when they meet.”

Unconfirmed reports said the French government is planning to extend an official invitation to Arafat to come to Paris and meet local leaders. Most major Jewish organizations have called on the government not to invite Arafat as this would mean extending some form of recognition to the PLO.

The Representative Council of Major Jewish Organizations in France (CRIF) this evening warned the French government that an invitation to Arafat to visit France “might result in a moral divorce” between France’s Jews and the French government.

CRIF, which held an extraordinary session this afternoon, called on the government and on the President not to invite or receive the PLO leader as “this would amount to some form of recognition of the murderous organization. ” Practically all major Jewish organizations were represented at today’s meeting.