(JTA) — Meyer Habib, a vice president of the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish communities, was elected to France’s parliament.
The news website L’ express reported that Habib, a 52-year-old businessman from Paris and a personal friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was elected to the National Assembly in Sunday’s second round of voting.
His 8th District represents French people living abroad, encompassing a number of Mediterranean countries that includes Israel.
Running on an independent ticket, Habib defeated Valerie Hoffenberg, who was backed by France’s principal center-right opposition UMP party.
The French embassy in Tel Aviv said in a statement Sunday that in Israel, Habib won 1,346 votes of the 2,176 cast.
Israel is home to 65,738 Frenchmen eligible to vote out of 111,736 throughout the 8th District, which comprises Turkey, Israel, Italy, Greece, the Vatican, San Marino and Malta.
Habib, the director of a jewelry company, is an observant Jew who divides his time between France and Israel.
