Chirac is smarting over Sharon’s call for French Jews to flee rising antisemitism in France. That’s right, Jacques: shoot the messenger. I’ll bet Sharon’s heart is broken over this. From CNN, with thanks to cgiddensjr:
PARIS, France (CNN) — French President Jacques Chirac said says Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is not welcome in Paris until he explains his appeal to French Jews to leave the country, a presidential spokeswoman said.
“A visit by the Israeli prime minister won’t be looked at closely until the requested explanation is provided,” the spokeswoman said.
Sharon said last weekend that French Jews should consider immigrating to Israel because of the rise in anti-Semitic incidents in France.
Sharon’s remarks, which included the charge that France was host to “the wildest anti-Semitism” — were misunderstood, Jacques Revah, the charge d’affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Paris, told The Associated Press. He said Sharon’s comments were only a way of telling Jews they belong in Israel.
“Mr. Sharon had the same message for all Jews in the world, and if he pointed out France, it was to praise the position and the measures France has taken to combat anti-Semitism,” Revah told the AP.
An invitation to visit France had apparently been extended to Sharon, but no date had been set, French officials said.
The French foreign ministry said Sharon’s remarks were “unacceptable,” and other officials described them as an “insult to France.”
No: antisemitism, perpetrated by jihadist Muslims in France and largely unpunished by French authorities, is an insult to France.