Chirac and Sharon get along well again

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and French president Jacques Chirac have mended their rift. At a visit in France, Sharon called Chirac "one of the world's great leaders" and praised his support for the Middle East peace process. After a meeting that lasted 2 ½ hours, both leaders said underlined their willingness to work together. Sharon said that he had invited Chirac to visit his ranch in the Negev desert and that the French leader had accepted. Chirac proposed a new French-Israeli foundation to improve cultural, economic and educational links, to which Sharon agreed. The Israeli prime minister is to hold meetings with foreign minister Douste-Blazy and European Jewish Congress officials on Thursday before returning to Israel.