Sharon calls for Jews to get out of France.

I think its sinister Galilite, because Sharon made the speech to invited Americans in Israel.

I really do think Sharon is trying to subvert the good offices of the EU and France in particular, because he knows well that knocking the French plays well in Washington right now.

No actually it is new, as Sharon's visit has been cancelled.

I use a script that randomizes them.

I wonder if it's an attempt to get France out of the Middle Eastern decision makers group by series of diplomatic scandals.

I cannot accept this near-hysterical tone of someone who didn't really research the subject before making far-fetched claims.

Do you really think a progressive country, a jewel of culture, working hard to support sympathetic and charismatic figures like Khomeini, Mugabe, Ceausescu or Bocassa the cannibal would miss a chance to stomp on the evil Zionist oppressor?

Israeli sources have downplayed the incident, saying that Sharon and other high-level officials regularly call on all Jews to immigrate to Israel. Immigration to Israel by Jews, or aliya, is a basic tenet of Zionism.

France: Sharon Not Yet Welcome Here
Contrary to many reports, French President Jacques Chirac did not say that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is not welcome in France. A French presidential source did say, however, that "a visit by the Israeli prime minister to Paris... won't be looked at closely until" Israel provides an explanation for Sharon's recent call to French Jewry.

The French Embassy's press office told Arutz-7 that Israel and France have been searching for a number of months for an acceptable date for a visit by Sharon to France. The spokesperson said that the search has now been suspended.

In a speech on Sunday, Sharon reacted to increasing anti-Semitism in France by citing the country's "wild anti-Semitism" and urging French Jews to move to Israel "before it's too late." Sharon has consistently called for Aliyah - Jewish immigration to Israel - from all over the world, and has said that Aliyah is his government's main priority. French officials reacted almost immediately: The Foreign Ministry issued a terse statement calling Sharon's remarks "unacceptable," while Jean-Louis Debre, president of France's lower house of Parliament, said that they were "inadmissible, unacceptable and, furthermore, irresponsible."

Jacques Revah, the charge d'affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Paris, said that Sharon's remarks were misunderstood and taken out of context.

Arutz-7's David Shapira, an expert on French-Israeli relations, said that Sharon's public remarks were "out of order," especially in light of the fact that the French government is fighting anti-Semitism.

AP reports that the latest French Interior Ministry figures show 510 anti-Jewish acts or threats in the first six months of 2004, compared to 593 for all of last year.

Galilite wrote:

I wonder if it's an attempt to get France out of the Middle Eastern decision makers group by series of diplomatic scandals.

You mean, the EU would 'fire' France, or that by this, the EU in totaliter would have to leave the 'decision makers group'?

I missed this yesterday. If you are referring to me Galite, I would say I just tried to convey something of the outrage ("scandalised") of the Gaullist Deputy I heard. He took Sharon's remarks as an affront to France.

I don't know what research is necessary before commenting on what someone (Sharon) said, and I don't think I made any claims, far fetched or not.

Er, now who's getting hysterical? "Evil Zionist oppressor" is your phrase not mine.

Suppose I say that UK is a country with a basket case economy, horrible climate and arrogant people which made its fortune on suffering of millions Indians, drugging Chinese with opium, etc. It's not true, and you'ld protest, right?

I might agree. Except the weather, its not that bad. :wink:

Quote:

Suppose I say that UK is a country with a basket case economy, horrible climate and arrogant people which made its fortune on suffering of millions Indians, drugging Chinese with opium, etc. It's not true, and you'ld protest, right?

I might agree. Except the weather, its not that bad. :wink:

In any case, truce, I hope

France calls on Israel to end row
France has said Israeli leader Ariel Sharon has yet to explain his remarks calling on Jews to flee France in the face of "spiralling anti-Semitism".
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said he had not cancelled a visit to Israel, scheduled for later this year.

But, he said, he expected Israel to explain Mr Sharon's remarks first.

Prime Minister Sharon has said Jews are being persecuted in France and must leave for Israel - angering many French and French-Jewish officials.

Mr Barnier said the row was "a very serious misunderstanding".

He told the Europe 1 radio station it was "a matter of honour for our republic... that each citizen is granted the same protections, the same freedoms, whatever their religious belief".

Paris' pledge

The Israeli leader made his remarks at a gathering of American Jews in Jerusalem on Sunday.


French President Jacques Chirac responded by saying Mr Sharon would not be welcome in France until he had explained his comments.
The Israeli leader is thought to have been planning a French visit, though no date had been set for it.

Israeli officials later tried to soften Mr Sharon's comments, saying it was the duty of every Israeli leader to encourage Jews to migrate to the Jewish state.

They said Mr Sharon had also praised measures France had taken to curb anti-Semitism.

A recent rise in reported anti-Semitic attacks in France has prompted Paris to pledge to defend its Jewish minority.

The attacks have been linked to neo-Nazi groups and to elements in France's sizeable Muslim minority that claim to be angered by Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.

Irritation

The BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris says Mr Sharon's remarks have left the French government seething with ill-concealed rage.

French Jews have also found Mr Sharon's comments unhelpful.

Richard Prasquier of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions was quoted by French news agency AFP as saying Mr Sharon had poured "oil on the fire in an unacceptable fashion".

Correspondents say there is irritation in France at the idea that life for Jews there is becoming dangerous - especially as the government has made every effort to show that anti-Jewish acts will be severely punished.

A week ago President Jacques Chirac rushed to condemn an apparently anti-Semitic attack on a Paris train that turned out to be a hoax.