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President Shimon Peres and French President Nicolas Sarkozy Smiling before their talks at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monday. Last update - 23:15 10/03/2008 Sarkozy to Peres: France will always be at Israel's side By The Associated Press Tags: Nicolas Sarkozy, France  French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a self-proclaimed friend of Israel, said France would always be at Israel's side and insisted the best way for Israel to battle terrorism was to help restart the stalled Mideast peace process, as he welcomed President Shimon Peres for a five-day state visit. French-Israeli ties have warmed considerably under Sarkozy after the 12-year tenure of his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, whom many saw as more pro-Arab. But Sarkozy's France has reacted coolly to Israel's recent announcements that it was stepping up housing and apartment construction in the West Bank and in disputed East Jerusalem. Advertisement "Israel's security depends on a stop to the colonization," Sarkozy told Peres during their meeting at the Elysee Palace. The comments were relayed to reporters by French presidential spokesman David Martinon. Earlier Monday, French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani reiterated that France condemns continued colonization that could threaten the creation of a viable Palestinian state. She urged Israel to refrain from any unilateral action that could threaten the final status of Palestinian territories or the peace process. For his part, Sarkozy said "my conviction is clear: the best guarantee for Israel's security is the creation of a modern, democratic and viable Palestinian state before the end of 2008," according to Martinon. On Sunday and Monday, Israel said it plans to build 400 homes in East Jerusalem, and another 750 apartments in Givat Ze'ev, a West Bank settlement just outside of Jerusalem. Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Sarkozy, Peres said the terror attack that killed eight students at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem last week would not alter Israel's policy. "What happened in Jerusalem was a real tragedy for us, but we don't intend to change our policies - namely, not to create new settlements," he said. Peres also said France and Israel agreed that Iran presented the greatest current danger with its contested nuclear program. Many Western nations fear Tehran is hiding bomb-building ambitions. Iran insists its nuclear plans are peaceful. Later, at a dinner in Peres' honor Monday evening at the Elysee Palace, Sarkozy pledged that France will always be beside Israel when its existence is thrown into question. "Those who scandalously call for its destruction will always find France in front of them to stand in their way," he said. Israeli flags lined the Champs-Elysee for Peres' state visit. Sarkozy, who took office in May, gave his guest a 19th-century engraving of a portrait of diplomat and writer Chateaubriand, and four old books. Peres dedicated an olive grove at a Holon agronomic school, near Tel Aviv, to the French leader. During his visit, Peres planned to meet French Jewish leaders and other government officials, and to inaugurate a book fair celebrating Israeli literature. Sarkozy is expected to visit Israel in May. Related articles: In show of love for Israel, Sarkozy makes Peres his first official visitor Sarkozy tells PM: Palestinian refugees will not return to Israel Sarkozy hosts Netanyahu in Paris, backs new sanctions against Iran Peres biography: Israel, France had secret pact to produce nuclear weapons Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bring the house down Dichter to police: Demolish home of J'lem yeshiva terrorist. Media frenzy Israel to boycott Al-Jazeera TV, claiming incitement to terror.   1.   Observation 23:23  |  Observer 10/03/08   2.   Sarkozy is a Joke in France 23:28  |  Markus 10/03/08   3.   are kouchner and sarkozy diconnected in their words about israel 23:31  |  michel 10/03/08   4.   Especially with a former operative of Mossad 00:37  |  Paul Wood 11/03/08   5.   Sarkozy a bigger moron than Peres (and that is saying something) 00:45  |  Chanalau, Tova 11/03/08   6.   Israel stands alone 01:06  |  Euro-Jew 11/03/08   7.   Israel will not survive like Apartheid in SA.. 01:30  |  Rasta 11/03/08   8.   President Peres in France 01:35  |  MS 11/03/08   9.   i luv it 01:52  |  alan 11/03/08   10.   For the first time Sarkozy is talking some sense! 02:01  |  lakshmi 11/03/08   11.   lmao at this worthless sarkozy idiot 02:12  |  frogster 11/03/08   12.   Israel must stop occupying Gaza 04:20  |  lakshmi 11/03/08   13.   For Paul Wood # 4 04:28  |  Fortuna Benmayor 11/03/08   14.   WRONG, SARKOZY 07:07  |  indrajaya 11/03/08   15.   to "Rasta" in Bangui (7) 07:34  |  Afrikaner 11/03/08   16.   Sarkozy Message is Clear 06:54  |  Brett Chatz 12/03/08   17.   France also supports Palestinians 19:00  |  Michel 12/03/08   18.   Peres hero of Qana 03:41  |  Nada 13/03/08

Today Online Barak: Fighting in Gaza, southern Israel may soon resume Responses: 197 Australian parliament lauds Israel as 'custodian of freedom' Responses: 160 Qureia to Livni: PA 'shocked' at plan to expand settlement Responses: 133 Israel to boycott Al-Jazeera TV, claiming incitement to terror Responses: 111 Pro-Palestinian graffiti found inside El Al plane in Italy Responses: 57 Haaretz TV: Israel-born child faces expulsion Responses: 28 Rosner's Domain General Fraser and the third whiner What General Fallon didn't get (WTR) Israeli leadership: A mixture of paranoia and luck Poll: Cease-fire with Hamas, a good idea? How Qassams changed the conflict (WTR) More Headlines 02:47 Lull in fighting ends as rockets slam into Israel 20:44 Defense Min.: Fighting in southern Israel, Gaza may soon resume 18:58 New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigns amid sex scandal 02:16 Poll: Half of Jews oppose living in neighborhoods with Arabs 09:26 Wagner show in Nazi-era hall to raise funds for Ramallah venue 04:12 Rabbi: Terror attack was punishment for rebellion against Torah 16:59 Smuggler buried alive when tunnel collapses near Egypt-Gaza border 04:42 IBA exec tried for indecent acts on minor still runs kids' radio 04:36 Targeted assassination / Little room for mistakes 03:08 Unremarkable night salvaged by Israeli's rendition of Schubert 04:35 ANALYSIS: Admiral's break with Bush on Iran lands him on the outs 21:27 Schindler Jews to mark 65 years since Krakow ghetto liquidation Previous Editions Select Day 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb

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