France-Israel Relations and the Iranian Nuclear Bomb

Written by: Amb. Freddy Eytan

French President Francois Hollande arrived in Israel for an official state visit to Jerusalem and Ramallah on Sunday, bringing a promise to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, along with an ardent wish to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. From Hollandes perspective, the timing of this visit could not be better. The United States diminishing credibility and strategic grip within the Arab world has created a golden opportunity. Sunni friends loyal to Washington, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, are furious at President Obamas rush to sign a treaty with the ayatollah regime in Tehran, which would act to strengthen the Shiite camp hostile to them. When it comes to resolving the conflict with the Palestinians, French policy is and always has been one-sided in the Palestinians favor. This policy has not changed in four decades ever since France first permitted the PLO to open an office in Paris and conducted official meetings with Yasser Arafat. Today, the policy is manifested in both economic and political support for Mahmoud Abbas, most notably in Frances recognition of Palestine as a full member within most UN bodies, in contrast to other Western countries. On Syria, as with the Iranian nuclear project, France has maintained a position that has been consistent, courageous, and more forceful than that of the U.S. or other Western states. Socialist France continues a foreign policy similar to that of its right-wing presidents Chirac and Sarkozy. Beginning back in the days of Charles de Gaulle, that policy was often unconventional and at odds with the consensus shared by NATO, the United States and the rest of Europe. France still sees itself as a military power capable of making fateful decisions regarding world peace. Recall that Sarkozy waged open war on Col. Muammar Khaddafi. President Hollande conducted a major military operation against Islamist terror in Mali and was prepared to participate in a strike against the Assad regime in Syria at Americas side. Only at the last minute was the strike was called off when Russias Putin managed to prevent the Wests intervention. In view of the current tension and lack of trust between Paris and Washington, accentuated by the news of American surveillance on French government institutions, France may be seeking to distinguish itself from Obamas stance on Iran and the Arab world even further, while trying to increase its influence in the Middle East, particularly within the Sunni states. France continues to supply weapons to the Gulf States and the French army has a base in Abu Dhabi. Frances ties with the Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have been further cemented in light of their firm opposition to Basher al-Assads regime in Syria.

Frances resolve when it comes to Iran may derive from its bitter experience with Saddam Hussein. Under President Giscard dEstaing, France built a nuclear reactor in Baghdad which was destroyed by Israels Begin government in June 1981 due to the justified concern that it was being built for military purposes. Frances promises at the time, and its guarantees that Israels worries were unfounded, simply did not measure up against the data on the ground. Today, three decades later, France is the wiser and it is demanding additional guarantees from Iran, despite believing in Tehrans right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Clearly, President Hollandes visit and his speech to the Knesset will do much to strengthen bilateral ties with Israel in all areas, including intelligence. The visit will also provide Frances Jewish community with a sense of security, despite a recent rash of anti-Semitic incidents. Hollandes visit will fortify Israels position regarding Iran and thus seek to avert a bad deal. France, which succeeded in delaying the signing in Geneva, has earned our appreciation. Yet ultimately, it is unlikely that France would refrain from signing an agreement put forth by the Americans due to its own clear economic interests. President Hollandes popularity at home is at an all-time low and France is in the midst of an economic crisis the depths of which the Fifth Republic has not known since its establishment in 1958. If the Obama administration has in fact made a decision to sign a bad deal with Iran and is simultaneously trying to push a diplomatic solution to the Palestinian problem, Israel must soberly reconsider its relations with the superpowers. The United States will, of course, continue to be Israels greatest strategic ally in every sense, but in view of the new geopolitical circumstances, we must look to fill the void left by the United States in our region and to improve our ties with both China and Russia. We must also do what we can to support President Hollande when it comes to Irans nuclear project, on condition, of course, that he shows greater understanding of the State of Israels security needs for defensible borders, as well as greater balance in his position vis--vis the Palestinians.

About Amb. Freddy Eytan Ambassador Freddy Eytan, a former Foreign Ministry senior advisor who served in Israels embassies in Paris and in Brussels, was Israels first Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. He was also the spokesman of the Israeli delegation in the peace process with the Palestinians. Since 2007, he head the Israel-Europe Project focuses on presenting Israels case in the countries of Europe, and seeks to develop ties and avenues of bilateral cooperation. He is also the director of Le Cape the Jerusalem Center website in French. Amb. Eytan wrote 20 books about the Israeli-Arab conflict and the policy of France in the Middle East as La Poudriere (The Powder Keg) and Le double jeu (the double game). He published also biographies of Shimon Peres, Ariel Sharon, Benjamin Netanyahu, and a book about The 18 Who Built Israel.

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