15 June, 2006
Israel's prime minister Ehud Olmert has praised the French authorities' efforts to combat anti-Semitism. Olmert, who was in Paris to promote his withdrawal plan from the West Bank, also reassured France's Jews, who have recently been jarred by hate crimes. Before meeting Wednesday with French President Jacques Chirac, Olmert praised the French leader as “one of the greatest fighters against anti-Semitism in the world.” The remarks were a reference to crackdowns ordered by French officials against predominantly Muslim immigrant groups that have targeted Jews. Olmert’s predecessor, Ariel Sharon, strained Israeli-French ties in 2004 by urging French Jews to flee “the wildest anti-Semitism” in their country. Despite Olmert’s efforts at rapprochement, he was quoted as telling Chirac that he would like to see French Jews immigrate to Israel.
Meanwhile, a French court has sentenced 25 Islamists for plotting terrorist attacks in Paris that may have included Israeli targets. The leaders of the group received sentences of eight to 10 years, while others were handed less severe sentences. The defendants, most of whom came from Algeria, allegedly received terrorist training in Afghanistan or Chechnya.
