CRIF MEETS FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER MICHEL BARNIER

CRIF's delegation was led by its President Roger Cukierman who reminded the French Foreign minister that anti-Semitism could not be stopped by national borders. TV Satellite stations broadcasting anti-Semitic programs from Arab countries must be monitored and such is the case of Al Manar TV (see CRIF's Newsletter previous issues and related article in this issue).

Foreign Minister Michel Barnier formally denied any behind-the-scene lobbying at the Broadcasting Authority by his ministry in favor of Al Manar. To the contrary, said Barnier, he did intervene in various Arab countries where anti-Semitic programs are originated. He added that he intervened in the issue of the anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic Palestinian textbooks.

Cukierman complained about the sponsoring by the French Foreign ministry of an Egyptian film, The Gate of the Sun, who turned out to be blatantly anti-Israeli. "We are disappointed about the unbalance of the European and French policy in the Middle-East," said Cukierman.
CRIF's President wished the visit of Michel Barnier to be a success and an occasion to enhance and widen the dialogue between France and Israel.

In a related issue, CRIF met with a group of ten leading Israeli journalists invited to Paris by the French ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Joint France Israel High Commission for the revival of the links between the two countries. CRIF's Vice President Roger Benarrosh and Manek Weintraub, member of CRIF's Executive Board, explained the current situation of the Jewish community and the action of CRIF.