The CRIF in action
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Published on 8 November 2004

CUKIERMAN: FRENCH GOVERNMENT SHOULD COMMEND SHARON OVER GAZA PULLBACK

CRIF's President Roger Cukierman said the French Government should commend Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for his project of pullback from the Gaza strip. "Sharon intends to lead a different policy in the interest of peace. This is an important evolution one should encourage. Sharon is doing what De Gaulle did with Algeria. He was elected by the right wing and now says: Eventually, I want to get out of Gaza. The (French Government) should commend this process. (French Foreign Minister) Michel Barnier started to do so during his visit to Israel (17 and 18 October)."



Cukierman was interviewed by the Lyons daily "Le Progres".

Asked about anti-Semitism in France, CRIF's President said, "The attitude of the government is impeccable, with the exception of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who maintains an unbalanced policy in the Middle-East trying to demonize the policy of the government of Israel. We are living in an environment trying to de-legitimize Zionism and the State of Israel and thus to legitimize anti-Semitism. (…) There is no real anti-Semitic will but a climate facilitating indifference to anti-Semitism. The (French) government is fighting against anti-Semitism but by allowing the development of a demonization of the government of Israel, (the French government) is giving arguments to those who are either indifferent or hostile."

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