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Shimon Peres and Nicolas Sarkozy meeting in Jerusalem earlier this month. (AP)
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The French-Israeli fairytale
By Shimon Peres
Tags: Nicolas Sarkozy, Shimon Peres 
The onus is on both leaderships and peoples to move forward from flirtation to productive relationship.

One of my very first responsibilities, as David Ben-Gurion's deputy, was to procure the necessary means with which to make sure this country would remain alive. I did so, not least, with the help of the French.

Between that period - in which the French leadership, as well as the French people - stood by Israel's side, in indescribable friendship and generosity, and the declaration of friendship bestowed upon our country and its people by President Sarkozy, during his recent visit here, "much water has flown in the Yarkon River," as we Israelis like to say...

The French-Israeli "courtship" had known its ups and downs throughout the years. As every flirtation, this one, too, needed the right music, the romantic setting and the rekindling of the flame to find itself - once more - in the height of its potential passion.
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President Sarkozy's state visit to Israel, prepared and carried out in reciprocity to my own state visit to France in March, was an affirmation of the afore-mentioned "passion." It is, as our distinguished guest had mentioned more than once during his visit, a relationship between two partners, which share democratic values, understand the need to put an emphasis upon economic growth and yearn to reveal that, which is still unknown, via encouragement of innovation and creativity.

Yet - as with every courtship - the excitement, anticipation and initial interest must be maintained with as much hard work as it took to gain the initial spark.

The Israeli people must first and foremost acknowledge the tremendous friendship which was extended to us by the French, at our most precarious first steps. The French people must understand that despite the seven wars which Israel had experienced, not a day of democracy was ever postponed.

Upon this platform of understanding, we need to find the niches in which our people may enhance the existing cooperation between our two countries, and simultaneously strive to promote joint efforts in new domains.

These joint efforts, for instance, come in within the framework of the Mediterranean Initiative introduced by President Sarkozy; in trilateral or quadruple economic cooperation with the Jordanians and the Palestinians, aimed at encouraging foreign investment and the building of business opportunities primarily for the benefit of the Palestinian economy. They also come in forwarding the discovery and use of alternative means of energy, for oil not only pollutes our planet and helps to finance terror throughout the world, but whose price is also rising exponentially in a way which is becoming unsustainable.

Indeed, the French presidential visit to Israel began with unprecedented interest by the media ? not only in the face of the undoubted beauty of the fairytale couple, but also given its contribution to cementing our very own Israeli-French fairytale, which began 60 years ago.

It served, in my eyes, as the final and very public declaration of France's serious intentions vis-a-vis its long-term courtship with Israel, and now, the onus is upon the two leaderships and the two peoples to move forward, from a fairytale flirtation to a deep and productive relationship, based upon commitment, shared values and a determination to constantly seek new and innovative possibilities for cooperation
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  1.   The French need to stand behind a united EU 18:39  |  French Catholic 01/07/08
  2.   very shallow value judgements 20:32  |  Norm 01/07/08
  3.   No good news for the Israeli right from Sarkozy 22:55  |  newageblues 01/07/08
  4.   Shimon Peres 23:38  |  Meir 01/07/08
  5.   Why he does not retire? 00:11  |  msh 02/07/08
  6.   This is vaguely reminiscent of something 00:48  |  Colin Wright 02/07/08
  7.   He`s flattering you! 00:52  |  Zimmer 03/07/08
  8.   What about Shalit 05:03  |  Great White North 10/07/08
  9.   Stone -throwing settlers in Hebron 11:36  |  Per Einar sønnesyn 12/07/08
  10.   anit-jewish sentiment 10:56  |  titto 15/07/08
  11.   Swap 20:56  |  David 15/07/08
  12.   to pier enard from bergen-belsen 01:33  |  friedrich 27/07/08
  13.   Daniel 5:28 18:52  |  Jimmy 06/08/08
  14.   Europe and Middle East Crossroads: France, Israel, US, EU, NATO 17:22  |  John Isenhower 11/08/08
  15.   wishful thinking ! 16:21  |  tristan 01/09/08
  16.   it is true 22:49  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 10/09/08
  17.   we must retain jerusalem at all costs 14:44  |  seth thomas 04/12/08
  18.   100%correct 21:47  |  seth thomas 04/12/08
  19.   who gives a stuff about the opinions of other 22:04  |  seth thomas 04/12/08
  20.   Israel and France 05:51  |  Darren White 30/12/08
  21.   We will remember 23:35  |  Rebecca 07/01/09
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