D’estaing’s Visit to Egypt May Serve to Further Isolate Israel

President Valery Giscard d’Estaing left for Cairo today on a five-day official visit to Egypt where he will sign new France-Egyptian trade agreements, coordinate the foreign policies of the two countries and, as is widely expected here, negotiate a large-scale arms sales agreement to Egypt.

The French leader’s departure for the Egyptian capital comes at a time when Israel’s diplomatic isolation in the world is almost universal and its popularity in France at the lowest ebb as a result of last week’s air raids on Lebanon. The President’s visit to Egypt will, if anything, contribute further to Israel’s isolation.

The publicity surrounding his trip which has included television and radio documentaries praising Egypt’s moderate role in the Mideast and its natural beauties, broadcast throughout Western Europe, will have the effect, albeit indirectly, of drawing Egypt closer to Europeans and shoving Israel further away.

The French have always had a soft spot for Lebanon which was part of its Syrian mandate between the two world wars. The Israeli air raids have evoked bitter comment in the French press. Le Monde published a cartoon yesterday depicting a Nazi-style concentration camp in which Oriental slippers, such as Arab wear, were shown on top of a pile of shoes reminiscent of the personal effects the Nazis took from gas chambers victims.

French Jewish organizations are doing their best to reverse the anti-Israel feelings. Letters appear in the press and appeals for understanding of the Israeli action are being circulated in Jewish and non-Jewish circles. But it is moot whether these actions will have the desired effect in the prevailing climate.

IDENTITY OF VIEWS BETWEEN FRANCE, EGYPT

Giscard d’Estaing said in an interview with Egypt’s Middle East News Agency prior to his departure that there is “a full identity of views” between France and Egypt. In view of this, he said, “We shall not be seeking for a rapprochement but for the means to settle a number of issues and advance a number of solutions,” He confirmed that “France-Egyptian military projects are being currently discussed” but said no actual agreements would be signed during his stay in Egypt.

The French President will be returning the visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat who came to France last year. He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Jean Sauvagnargues and other top aides. His schedule calls for two private meetings with Sadat who French sources describe as “a personal friend” of the President.

Although Giscard d’Estaing is not due to meet PLO chieftain Yasir Arafat or any other Palestinian leader in Cairo, it is believed that some of his aides will probably confer with lower echelon Palestinians engaged in political work. Indirectly, those contacts would help make the Palestinians “more acceptable” on the European scene and make Israel’s fight against recognition of the PLO that much more difficult.

WESTERN EUROPE DRAWS CLOSER TO EGYPT

Apart from the technical aspects of the French President’s Egyptian trip, it is seen by political circles as marking a closer relationship between Egypt and Western Europe as a whole. French diplomats here say the other eight European Common Market countries agree with France that “moderate Egypt must be encouraged.”

That encouragement would take three main forms: signing of trade agreements providing for French investments of about $105 million in Egyptian industrial projects; the dispatch of French experts and joint development projects such as a tunnel under the Suez Canal; coordination of Franco-Egyptian foreign policies; and, eventually, Cairo’s diplomatic moves with those of Western Europe. As a first concrete development, France is expected to press for accelerated negotiations in Brussels for a trade agreement granting Egypt most-favored-nation privileges in the Common Market.

Large-scale arms agreements are expected to be reached. French industry badly needs them for economic reasons and Egypt for political ones. According to most observers here, the U.S. is not prepared to send vital arms to Egypt for the time being. Cairo would also like France’s help in setting up a nuclear industry which, though officially described as “for peaceful usages,” could be converted to military uses.