Netanyahu in Paris : ‘The French Jewish community does a lot for France and for Israel’,
‘Israel has blocked very many terrorist attacks in Europe and will continue to do so’
PARIS— “The French Jewish community does a lot for France and for Israel,” said Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he met in Paris on Tuesday with leaders of the community, just before his meeting at the Elysée Palace with French President Emmanuel Macron.
In his address to the Jewish leaders, he emphasized the strength of the bond that unites the French Jews to Israel.
‘’This link is also a deep cultural link. And it is also a human link, thanks to the glorious Jewish community here, which has contributed greatly to both France and Israel,’’ Netanyahu said.
He also spoke of the aliyah from France. ‘’I am very moved by the fact that we have 180,000 immigrants from France. We are doing everything, not enough, to allow them, first of all, to reduce this awful bureaucracy, about driver’s licenses and professional certificates. We have already done this for doctors and afterwards with pharmacists, and now we are working with nurses. But it must be in all professional fields that are recognized in France; they need to be recognized in Israel. There is no logic. This is not a question. It is a policy of fighting excessive bureaucracy and legalism. We are doing this step by step out of genuine love and admiration.’’
‘Fight, fight and fight anti-Semitism…’
He addressed the phenomenon of anti-Semitism ‘’that is disturbing to us’’. ‘’Anti-Semitism in Europe in general and France in particular, these attacks, have ancient roots even though their expressions are new. Against this there needs to be one thing: Fight it. Fight, fight and fight. This is the policy, not just of this government and of this president, but also of previous presidents and governments and his is important. ‘’
He added : ‘’The main thing that must be understood is that it never ends with the Jews. Jew-hatred always spreads to a greater problem; therefore, it is possible to recruit others, for both moral reasons and the future of society. I know that this will come up in my talks today with President Macron.”
He ended his address by saying that “Israel is working against the threat of radical Islam which threatens Israel and the entire world.’’
‘’We are thwarting awful terrorist attacks including here in France. Israel has blocked very many terrorist attacks in Europe and will continue to do so,” he declared.
The Israeli premier is in France for the inauguration of the France-Israel Season and to discuss with President Macron regional issues and in particular Iran. Netanyahu and Macron will cap the day with a visit to an exhibit on Israeli innovation as part of events commemorating Israel’s 70th birthday.
Netanyahu ‘not surprised’ by Khamenei threat to destroy Israel
As he arrived in Paris, Netanyahu said he isn’t surprised that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monda called Israel the “cancerous tumor” of the region that must be “removed and eradicated.”
“Yesterday he explained how he would do it — with an unlimited enrichment of uranium to produce an arsenal of nuclear bombs,” he said. “We aren’t surprised, and will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.”
Netanyahu and Macron – who are meeting for the third time in Paris since July 2017 – should show again their differences on ways to bring stability in the Middle East, while making the same analysis of threats.
The “diagnosis is shared on the fact that the military presence of Iran or pro-Iranian groups in Syria represents a lasting threat”, noted the French presidency.
But Paris calls for the nuclear agreement with Iran to be supplemented by discussing with Iran its ballistic activities and its regional influence, while Israel is on a much more frontal approach to force Tehran to renegotiate the nuclear deal.
On Wednesday, the Israeli leader will travel to London for talks with British Prime Minster Theresa May. On Monday he was in Berlin where he met German Chancellor Angela Merkel.