U.S. Jewish Leaders Meet with Paris Mayor to Express Concern over Anti-semitism in France

A delegation of American Jewish leaders, representing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, met with Mayor Jacques Chirac of Paris here yesterday to express their concern over terrorism and anti-Semitism in France and their solidarity with the policies of the Israeli government, many of which are opposed by the French government. Chirac answered their questions and explained his own positions.

The interview, at Chirac’s Hotel Carlyle suite, was arranged through Mayor Edward Koch of New York and his aides. Koch was Chirac’s guest in Paris in 1978. He is a prominent figure in French national politics which go beyond the office of Paris Mayor.

The 15-member delegation of the Presidents Conference made it clear that they are dismayed over manifestations of anti-Jewish terrorism and anti-Semitism in France in recent months, particularly since Israel’s campaign in Lebanon. Chirac insisted that anti-Semitism is virtually non-existent in France. He said only a fraction of one percent of the French population could be called anti-Semitic and that French Jews are regarded as Frenchmen without qualification.

CONCEDES TERRORISM IS A PROBLEM

Chirac conceded that terrorism was a problem and said he has been trying during the past six years to persuade previous governments and the present government of Socialist President Francois Mitterrand, to act more vigorously against terrorism, but without much success.

The Jewish delegation stressed the strong support in the American Jewish community for Israel’s opposition to a Palestinian state, its rejection of the Palestine Liberation Organization as a participant in the Middle East peace process and its assertion that Jewish settlements in the occupied territories are neither illegal nor an obstacle to peace.

They reiterated support for Israel’s position that Jerusalem must remain a united city under Israel’s sovereignty. They expressed dismay over continued Arab refusal to come to the peace table with Israel. They said this was the overriding impediment to peace. They also expressed continued support for the Camp David peace process which the French government has dismissed as no longer viable.

Chirac agreed on the PLO. He said he had never met with PLO chief Yasir Arafat, opposed such a meeting and also opposed the opening of a PLO office in France. He said he regarded himself as a great friend of Israel but he does not agree with the policies of Premier Menachem Begin’s government. According to Chirac, there must be an end to settlement in the occupied territories. He would approve a Palestinian state and he believes Israel’s pre-1967 borders could serve as a kind of guideline to a settlement setting up permanent boundaries.

Chirac recalled that he had received Mayor Teddy Kollek of Jerusalem on a four day official visit to Paris last year despite opposition from the French government and protests from the Arab diplomatic corps.