By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency

Jerusalem ----- June 24, 2008 ....... France President Nicolas Sarkozy concluded a warm and successful three day trip to Israel today.

"On behalf of France, we would like to declare our true love to Israel, we love you!" Sarkozy said at an Israel Export Institute sponsored business conference this afternoon in Jerusalem.

The only negative incident that occurred during the Sarkozy visit to Israel, came at a departure ceremony when a bullet was heard at Ben-Gurion. At first, Israel officials said that they thought that it was a suicide and not an assassination attempt. Now security analysts have told the INA that they believe that severe heat may have caused a bullet to explode, fatally wounding an elite MAGAV Israel border policeman.

"As for an assassination attempt, this could not happen," an Israel security analyst said. "The area was sterilized, even stray cats were video taped. There is talk now that a bullet may have exploded in the chamber of the police officers weapon. It would not have been the first time that gunpowder went off in 45 degree plus Celsius weather. This police officer, who had a heroes record, gave his life in protecting the President of France and Israel leaders. MAGAV and all Israel security personnel go through extensive psychological tests annually. These men are trained to stay on their toes for hours in the worst conditions. We should expect condolences coming from Sarkozy, Olmert and Peres."

The weather was sizzling on the Ben-Gurion airport tarmac, with high temperatures and high humidity. Two IDF soldiers who were participating in the ceremonial band fainted from heat stroke.

Both Israel and France security went into emergency procedures. Sarkozy and his super model wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy were whisked into their jet as Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israel President Shimon Peres were escorted to a bullet proof car. Sarkozy walked calmly into his jet, even giving a casual goodbye wave to those behind him. And Olmert also remained cool and calm, looking to see where the shot had come from.

After a few minutes, the all clear was sounded and Olmert and Peres walked into Sarkozy's jet for a relaxing and smiling goodbye.

Israel Border Police officials said the man, a member of the Druze community, had served as a border policeman for eight years since he was discharged from mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces.

"We are currently investigating the circumstances to see whether it was suicide or if he accidentally discharged his weapon," said area police commander Nissim Mor. "His mission was to secure an area to prevent people from reaching the ceremony."

An IDF military band was playing at the time the bullet went off, and the dignitaries apparently didn't hear anything.

A French presidential spokesman who was on another scheduled flight out of Tel Aviv said he knew nothing about the incident.

Earlier in the day in Bethlehem, Sarkozy said Israel's security fence in the West Bank would not guarantee its security forever, renewing his call for Israelis and Palestinians to make peace and share the holy city of Jerusalem.

Sarkozy spoke at a news conference alongside Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, following his only meeting with Palestinian leaders during his visit.

Sarkozy is the first France president to visit Israel in almost 12 years, and only the second to address the Israel parliament after Francois Mitterrand in 1982.

On Monday, Sarkozy told the Israel Knesset (parliament) that there could be no Mideast peace unless Israel halted its West Bank settlement construction and divided Jerusalem. Sarkozy focused on the security fence built to keep suicide bombers out of Israel.

"You can't protect yourself with a wall, but with politics," Sarkozy said. "What will give Israel security is making a democratic Palestinian state."

While Palestinians are quick to call the security fence the Apartheid Wall, Israelis are quick to remind the world that Islam truly practices Apartheid - not Israel which maintains one Arab Minister and several Arab MK's in its democratic Knesset.

France President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni arrived at the Knesset on Monday, where a warm reception was held in their honor.

Sarkozy vowed that France would always stand by Israel against those who call for its destruction. "The Iran nuclear program requires a firm response on the part of the international community. Israel is not alone."

He noted that a two-state solution would be required for the Israel Palestinian conflict.

Expressing his solid position against the Iran threat, the French president said, "I reiterate here loud and clear, as far as France is concerned, a nuclear Iran is completely unacceptable.

"France is determined to continue to run, along with its partners, a policy combining worsening sanctions with openness, in case Tehran chooses to honor its international commitments.

"France is Israel's friend and will always stand by it when its security or existence are threatened. And those who scandalously call for Israel's destruction will always – always – be faced and blocked by France."

Olmert responded that "the Israel - France relations have seen their ups and down over the past six decades. In the 1950s, when Israel faced waves of terror and extermination threats, and when its Arab enemies were equipped with large amounts of improved weapons from the Soviet Union, France was one of the only states to stand by Israel and provide it with defensive arms."

Opposition Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu told Sarkozy: "I can rule without hesitation that you are a true friend of Israel." He went on to say that "Jerusalem will never be divided, just like no person would ever think of dividing any European state. We will never return to the 1967 borders and will never withdraw from the Israel Golan Heights."

On Sunday, Sarkozy said that a Middle East peace cannot be achieved unless Damascus is brought to the negotiating table.

"If we do not talk with Syria President Bashar Assad there will not be peace in the Middle East," Sarkozy told Israel President Shimon Peres. Sarkozy exhibited great warmth for the elderly statesman. "My dear Shimon, you are the roots of Israel and I thank you for hosting us," he said.

Sarkozy, whose maternal grandfather was a Greek Jew, devoted most of his trip to meetings with Israel leaders. He also met with the parents of an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza. The young man, Gilad Schalit, also holds French citizenship.

"Gilad must be released," Sarkozy told members of the French community after the closed-door meeting. "One does not build peace by holding hostages."

On the eve of Sarkozy's arrival, a 17-year-old French Jew was attacked in Paris, a violent assault condemned by the president and that Jewish organizations said was motivated by anti-Semitism.

"Battling anti-Semitism concerns all French people, whether they are Jews or not," Sarkozy said, adding that anti-Semitism "is a stain on the tricolour flag."

On Monday morning, Sarkozy and his wife toured Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial to the six million Jews murdered by Germany's Nazi regime.

Israel President Peres and France President Sarkozy illustrated their support for a broad effort to promote the use of electric cars, embracing a joint venture between an American Israel entrepreneur and Renault, of France, and its partner, Nissan Motor, of Japan.

Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, with the active support of President Shimon Peres, intends to make Israel a Green laboratory to test the practicality of an environmentally clean electric car.

Israel will offer tax incentives to purchasers, and the new company, with a $200 million investment to start, will begin construction of facilities to recharge the cars and replace empty batteries quickly.

Photo: AP

Carla Bruni, French President Nicolas Sarkozy's supermodel wife, was as much the star of this trip as her husband.

"Stealing the show," the caption read underneath the front page photo in the Israel daily Ha'aretz.

Her husband and Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert were only in the background of both the picture and the interest on Israel's streets.

As the French president affirmed his country's positive relations with Israel, his wife affirmed her positive relations with the media. Termed as the "Carla Effect" in Paris, Bruni brings her husband more attention when the two travel on diplomatic visits.

Carla Bruni was scheduled to visit the Dead Sea and take a trip to its magical skin preserving waters. But the visit was canceled as many feared that photos of Carla Bruni in a bathing suit would totally upstage the France President's trip to Israel.

"Many would forget about Sarkozy excellent efforts in bringing peace to the region," said one Israeli. Another Israeli said that it would have just the opposite effect. "Images of beautiful people, especially celebrities smiling in Israel, is exactly what we need."

Throughout the Israel visit, Sarkozy called himself a "friend of Israel" and praised the democratic, Jewish state.

Sarkozy spoke of Israel's significance to the Jewish people. "This is the only place in the world where everyone is certain that Jews will never be forced to wear a yellow patch."

"Jews across the world feel bound to their homeland. The fate of every Jews is tied to the fate of all other Jews. The fact that there is such a successful Jewish state in the world constitutes a source of honor and pride for each and every one of them."

"Because in Israel, Judaism is not defined out of the attitude towards anti-Semitism. Because for every Jew, this is the only place in the world where everyone is certain that Jews will never be forced to wear a yellow patch, where Jews will not be banned from traveling on buses, visiting the cinema and theater and holding certain roles, and will not be forced to live in neighborhoods for Jews only or visit restaurants, stores and schools for Jews only."

He concluded his Knesset speech: "France will not abandon you on the road. France admires you. Long live France, long live Israel."

 

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