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French President Nicolas Sarkozy meeting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Paris on Monday. (Reuters)
Last update - 04:46 23/10/2007
Sarkozy tells PM: Palestinian refugees will not return to Israel
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Prime Minister 

PARIS - Palestinian refugees should be resettled in a Palestinian state, not in Israel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Monday.

"Each side should have its own nation-state," he said, according to Israeli officials who were present at the two leaders' meeting. "It is not reasonable for the Palestinians to demand both an independent state and also the refugees' return to the state of Israel, which even today has a minority of one million Arabs."

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arkozy, who hosted Olmert at the Elysee Palace, expressed strong support for Israel, describing its establishment as "a miracle" and "the most significant event of the 20th century."

"They say that I support Israel because my grandfather was Jewish, but this isn't a personal matter," he continued, according to the Israeli sources. "Israel introduces diversity and democracy to the Middle East. It's a miracle that out of the remnants of the ... scattered Jewish people, such a state has arisen."

"Israel's security is a clear red line, which is not up for negotiation," he added. "That is an inviolable condition, which we will never concede."

Olmert and Sarkozy initially met in a small forum, with one aide apiece present. The focus of those talks was Iran's nuclear program. Olmert told Israeli reporters afterward that "on the Iranian issue, I could not have heard statements that better satisfied my expectations."

He said that he and Sarkozy did not discuss a military attack against Iran.

"There's a broad spectrum of measures between the extremes of capitulation and military action," he said, adding that he believes there is a possibility of intensified sanctions against Iran via both the UN Security Council and the European Union. Sarkozy supports expanded sanctions, and the two leaders discussed how to persuade Germany, Italy and Spain to go along.

Olmert believes that existing sanctions, which target Iran's economy and banking system, have already had an effect. "We need to prevent Iranian businessmen from doing business, until the class that controls the Iranian economy does something against the regime," he said in a conversation with French journalists after his meeting with Sarkozy.

After their talks on Iran, the two leaders met in a larger forum, with more aides present. These talks focused mainly on the Palestinian issue, and especially the upcoming peace conference in Annapolis.

Sarkozy urged Olmert, who briefed the president on his talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to make additional gestures to the Palestinians. "The prisoner release was very important," he said, referring to Israel's release of two batches of Palestinian prisoners over the past few months. Both were billed as goodwill gestures to Abbas.

France, Sarkozy continued, wants to be involved in advancing an Israeli-Palestinian agreement. It will attend the Annapolis conference, and will also host a meeting of donor states to the PA in Paris on December 17.

After the meeting, Sarkozy's spokesman said that "the minute Israel's security is assured, it will be possible to display creativity toward the Palestinians."

In his comments to French journalists, Olmert also insisted that his coalition was not at risk of unraveling over the Annapolis conference.

Two rightist ministers, Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu and Eli Yishai of Shas, have threatened to take their parties out of the government if the conference, due to convene in in late November or December, tackles final-status issues such as borders, Jerusalem and the refugees.

"I don't see any political difficulty with this," Olmert told the reporters. "I gather from my meetings with coalition partners that the coalition is cohesive and stable."

This morning, Olmert will head to London for a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, their first since Brown took office. The talks will focus on Iran and the Palestinian issue. In addition, Olmert will ask Brown to work to change the law that enables Israel Defense Forces officers to be indicted in Britain for alleged war crimes.

Tuesday evening, before heading back to Israel, Olmert will meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is also in London. Turkey has also expressed interest in helping Israeli-Palestinian negotiations; in addition, it has sought Israel's help in blocking a proposed resolution the U.S. House of Representatives that defines Turkey's massacre of Armenians in 1915 as genocide.



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      1.   King Nicholas, the French burden 09:44  |  Clickfool 22/10/07
      2.   What I do not understand is that Sarko, 09:52  |  Noémie 22/10/07
      3.   CFOOL.Mega sour grapes by any sourpuss standards. 10:18  |  PETER S .M. 22/10/07
      4.   For Peter SM # 3 11:03  |  Clickfool 22/10/07
      5.   CFOOL@4 I see you are upset they do not do it anymore 11:24  |  PETER S.M. 22/10/07
      6.   For Peter SM # 5 11:37  |  Clickfool 22/10/07
      7.   CFOOL Better half a loaf. 12:18  |  PETER S .M. 22/10/07
      8.   CFOOL.It never changes completely but its changed for the better. 12:45  |  PETER S.M. 22/10/07
      9.   Peter SM and Clickfool if I could politely interrupt? 14:01  |  Don Camillo 22/10/07
      10.   Surprise?? 14:59  |  North American 22/10/07
      11.   France wants Israel to accept 200.000 pal "refugees" 16:29  |  Absolute Sweden 22/10/07
      12.   Sarkozy is asking exactly the same from Israel as I do....... 16:30  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/07
      13.   Sarkozy`s Record on "Creativity" 17:26  |  kenstee 22/10/07
      14.   "Creativity" a perfectly reasonable request 17:39  |  Polybios 22/10/07
      15.   `Creativity` 17:44  |  Jon 22/10/07
      16.   The revolving door and luftgescheft 17:54  |  redmike 22/10/07
      17.   Is Sarkozy Giving Half of FRANCE & Half of Paris to TERRORISTS? 17:57  |  Linda Rivera 22/10/07
      18.   Doomed To Fail 18:00  |  Paulo 22/10/07
      19.   The security of France and Europe are not assured ! 18:02  |  redmike 22/10/07
      20.   # 14 Polybios Big steps and baby steps 18:16  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/07
      21.   Sarkozy`s record 18:29  |  Lily 22/10/07
      22.   Does anyone know.... 19:18  |  Clickfool 22/10/07
      23.   Is Peace possible? (1) 19:29  |  Dan Chazan 22/10/07
      24.   Is Peace possible? (2) (second part) 19:30  |  Dan Chazan 22/10/07
      25.   Is Peace possible? (3) (third part) 19:30  |  Dan Chazan 22/10/07
      26.   PETER S .M. - What? 19:37  |  Euro 22/10/07
      27.   Dino #20 20:01  |  Polybios 22/10/07
      28.   Do French people share Sarkozy`s red line? 20:16  |  Petteri 22/10/07
      29.   Iran: Israels ultimate fund raiser 20:20  |  Natallie Durson 22/10/07
      30.   Israel`s establishment the `miracle of the 20th Century` 20:22  |  Dagma 22/10/07
      31.   Hi, Paulo! I asked you a few months ago a question 20:25  |  Roni 22/10/07
      32.   Showdown with Iran is unavoidable 20:34  |  Jonathan S 22/10/07
      33.   For Jonathan S, yearning for an attack on Iran # 32 20:47  |  Clickfool 22/10/07
      34.   #26 Euro 20:51  |  DR 22/10/07
      35.   #29 , Natallie Durson 20:53  |  DR 22/10/07
      36.   Nonsensical Redmike 20:57  |  Jean-Paul DOGUET 22/10/07
      37.   #14 Polybios 20:58  |  Labhras 22/10/07
      38.   North American # 10 21:07  |  ChanahS 22/10/07
      39.   #19 redmike 21:20  |  Labhras 22/10/07
      40.   "creativity in talks with PA in talks with PA" 21:39  |  Michael 22/10/07
      41.   ClickFOOL yearning for surrender 21:42  |  Jonathan S 22/10/07
      42.   re: Roni 21:45  |  Paulo 22/10/07
      43.   "NORTH AMERICAN" Whats your explanation for Christian Zionists 22:04  |  PETER S.M. 22/10/07
      44.   lily 22:06  |  abraibraok 22/10/07
      45.   sarkozy is ambitious,is hoping to be a second Napoleno,to restore 22:08  |  lakshmi 22/10/07
      46.   click the fool 22:09  |  abraibraok 22/10/07
      47.   Jonathan S 22:16  |  Axel 22/10/07
      48.   to Nathalie 22:18  |  abaibraok 22/10/07
      49.   #33 Clikfool going to war 22:22  |  Jacko 22/10/07
      50.   to click the foolNo 33 22:27  |  abraibraok 22/10/07
      51.   To Jean Paul, 36 22:33  |  abraibraok 22/10/07
      52.   to No. 45 22:45  |  abraibraok 22/10/07
      53.   agitation 22:48  |  al akl 22/10/07
      54.   # 1 Well, Clickass, idiocy is a god given too... 22:59  |  Misha 22/10/07
      55.   You may not like Clickfool folks 23:03  |  Mark B. 22/10/07
      56.   You may not like Clickfool folks 23:03  |  Mark B. 22/10/07
      57.   Shame on you Aluf benn,repeating the old canard that Dr.A. has 23:12  |  lakshmi 22/10/07
      58.   Sweet talk Olmert, he`ll kiss your.. 23:16  |  Pesian CAT 22/10/07
      59.   Stop clicking on the fool 23:23  |  Anti Clickfool 22/10/07
      60.   to abraibraok it`s not israel who want irak ? and now Iran ? 23:23  |  al akl 22/10/07
      61.   For Jacko # 49 23:23  |  Clickfool 22/10/07
      62.   For abraibraok # 50 23:24  |  Clickfool 22/10/07
      63.   Good one Sarko ! 23:40  |  Frederique 22/10/07
      64.   About ClickFOOL, the man of peace #56 00:36  |  Jonathan S 23/10/07
      65.   Labhras #37 00:36  |  Polybios 23/10/07
      66.   Only the strong and undefeatable IDF can make guaranty the Peace 00:51  |  e.m 23/10/07
      67.   Only the strong and undefeatable IDF can make guaranty the Peace 00:51  |  e.m 23/10/07
      68.   #45:Sarkozy is the copy of P.Bush which he stood against terroris 01:06  |  e.m 23/10/07
      69.   #45:Sarkozy is the copy of P.Bush which he stood against terroris 01:06  |  e.m 23/10/07
      70.   The photo, says it all. 02:00  |  Maureen Ann