A pre-dawn blast virtually destroyed a synagogue in central Paris French Interior Minister Michel Poniatowski, in a telegram to Jewish community leaders, expressed indignation over the attack and said he had ordered the police department to do everything possible to find and bring to justice the perpetrators “of this criminal attack.” The powerful explosion also destroyed three parked cars, tore a huge hole in the street and shattered every window in the immediate vicinity. A four-year-old girl was slightly injured by flying glass. Sleeping neighbors were literally thrown from their beds.
Alexander Klein, president of the synagogue, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency he had received no threats. Police investigating the blast found no messages or inscriptions from the vandals. It was felt the attack might be connected with the current visit to Paris by Israeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility by any terrorist group, Chief Rabbi Jacob Kaplan of France visited the synagogue this morning, accompanied by Alain de Rothschild, president of the Consistory, and Jean Rosenthal, president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions. Rothschild told the JTA he was greatly disturbed that such incidents occur in France.
RESPECT, FRIENDSHIP FOR ISRAEL
Allon, who arrived here yesterday on a three day official visit, had two working sessions yesterday with French Foreign Minister Jean Sauvagnargues. The two diplomats later, at a dinner last night in Allon’s honor, expressed differing views on how to bring about a settlement in the Middle East. The French diplomat stressed that Israel’s security must be assured in any settlement.
Sauvagnargues said that the French government continued to believe that three conditions had to be fulfilled to bring peace in the Middle East. He said these were Israeli evacuation of the occupied areas, taking into consideration the right of the Palestinians to a national homeland, and mutual recognition of all states in the area and the granting of very serious guarantees to ensure the security of their borders.
The French Foreign Minister concluded his toast with an expression of France’s “respect and friendship” for Israel. In his response, Allon said peace could be achieved only by mutual honorable concessions which would satisfy Israel’s security needs and the political aspirations of the Arab states.
CONFERS WITH JEWISH , FRENCH LEADERS
Allon’s second day in Paris was marked by a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Jewish Martyr, accompanied by Sauvagnargues who, visibly moved, knelt briefly and placed a tricolor wreath on the crypt. French army buglers sounded taps as several hundred Parisian Jews gathered at the memorial in the heart of the old Jewish quarter, looked on and later cheered the Israeli minister.
Earlier, Allon breakfasted with three leaders of the French Jewish community; the Chief Rabbi; Rosenthal; and Baron de Rothschild. Allon discussed Israel’s political stand and urged them to continue their work on behalf of Russian and Syrian Jews. Later, the Foreign Minister received 80 members of the local Jewish community, representing most Jewish organizations in Paris.
The day’s tough meeting came when Allon called on French Premier Jacques Chirac. For about one hour Chirac asked Allon pointed and sometimes slightly aggressive questions such as why don’t you negotiate with the Palestinians? Why do you refuse to even recognize them? In spite of this interrogation, French and Israeli official circles said the meeting was cordial though it also was outspoken and frank.
Allon was due to meet late this afternoon with French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing. This evening he will be the guest of honor at a dinner tendered in his honor by the United Jewish Appeal in France presided by Michel Topiol and CRIF, chaired by Rosenthal.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
