Sarkozy pledges to stand by Israel, calls for more pressure on Iran

14 February 2008

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France has said he will visit Israel to mark the 60th anniversary of founding of the state in May of this year. "This is a very important event," he said. The trip would be his first visit to the country since taking office. Speaking at the annual dinner of France's main Jewish organization, the CRIF, the French president said he would address Israel's parliament, the Knesset, during the visit - which he said came in response to an invitation from his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres.

Sarkozy also reiterated his pledges to stand by Israel. "France will always be at Israel's side," he told an audience of 1,000 people invited by the CRIF. Many government ministers, including prime minister Fran