In other times, Jerusalem's legendary mayor Teddy Kollek would greet you at the entrance to our city bearing bread and salt, as a traditional sign of hospitality. As one of his advisors in years past, I am hereby sending these tokens of friendship in a virtual way (you are very familiar with the medium of the Internet, as you demonstrated in the professional use you made of it during the course of your exciting race for the leadership of France's Socialist Party).

The writer of these lines is an Israeli from the left side of the political map, a proud and enthusiastic Francophone, but someone who is only sometimes a Francophile. I have followed your campaign with interest and attention, and from it I remember in particular one of your catchy slogans: "Politics must change." Very true. The Fifth Republic must undergo a thorough shakeup, and your promising election could well accelerate it.

But France's Middle East politics also has to change, especially with respect to Israel. A balanced and fair attitude toward the complex problems of our region could return to France the considerable historical influence it has had, and which it must not lose. Peace and coexistence will be the greatest beneficiaries if France plays an original role in the region. To this end, France must set defined, more generous aims for itself with respect to peace in the Middle East. The fate of any policy that will consider the dictatorships and the democratic regimes in the Middle East as being equal can be expected to be like that of France's known "Arab policy," which all too often has boiled down to a hostile anti-Israeli position, and no more. No tolerance should be evinced toward the explicit calls for the destruction of Israel from the heads of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.

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The way to achieving peace is full of potholes, as Pierre Mendes-France often said, but for very many Israelis, my dear Madame Royal, peace still remains the only possible solution. The recent war in Lebanon has reminded us yet again of the lesson that was learned and taught by the great ministers of the army so many times: There are limits to the use of military force. However, more than 15 months after the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, more Palestinian activity aimed at assisting the development of their economy might have been expected. But as Colonel Jibril Rajoub said recently in an interview on Palestinian television: "We expected that Gaza would be Singapore but, most regrettably, it is only Somalia." Only a true and mutual willingness to negotiate will bring us closer to the time of peace that is described in Ecclesiastes.

And another wish, which I have been mentioning for 20 years now to France's diplomatic chiefs: Hasn't the time come for France to energetically encourage Israel's entry into the International Francophone Organization (OIF) which, in 2006, is the only serious international forum that is still boycotting Israel? You most probably know that one of the rules underlying the organization's activity is the obligation that all of its resolutions be accepted unanimously, which is incomprehensible and anachronistic. The willingness to give only one country, Lebanon, the right of veto to prevent Israel - a country where about 1 million French-speakers live, and which constitutes a real and vibrant part of this region - from joining the OIF is a shortsighted and disappointing decision. It is a pity that this state of affairs does not perturb even one of the member countries.

The current president of France has all too many times held onto one side of the conflict, rather than understanding, as any true person of the left does, that the true distinction to be made is not between pro-Israelis and pro-Palestinians, but rather between supporters of peace and opponents of peace. I prefer the words of Gustave Flaubert: "There is a division of labor between God and man. God is responsible for the beginning and the end. We are responsible for what happens in between."

The writer is a sociologist.