Chirac invites Sharon to France
President Jacques Chirac has invited Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to visit France this summer, reaching out to a leader with whom he has often had tense relations.
The invitation, the first from Chirac to Sharon since the Israeli leader took office in 2001, was released today by the presidential Elysee Palace, but was dated June 7.
Chirac praised Sharon’s “determined and courageous decision” to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
“More than ever, France and its European partners want to be at your side so that this withdrawal sparks a positive dynamic and that Israel and its neighbours can benefit at last from the peace and stability to which all aspire,” Chirac wrote.
France has planned to invite Sharon several times, but never formally issued an invitation because of periodic flare-ups of tension.
Chirac and Sharon had a stand-off last July when Sharon told a group of American Jewish leaders that French Jews were under increasing threat from France’s large Muslim community and should immigrate to Israel for their own safety.
In response to Sharon, Chirac said the Israeli leader would not be welcome in France until he gave a satisfactory explanation. Israeli media later reported Chirac sent a message to Israeli President Moshe Katsav saying he considered the incident closed.
France has experienced a recent wave of anti-Semitic incidents, coinciding with the four-year round of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
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