CRIF’S PRESIDENT CUKIERMAN DEFENDS HIS "AGGRESSIVE" STAND

Speaking to the French Jewish weekly "Acualite Juive", Cukierman was asked whether he "did not go over the top when he severely criticized the French policy in the Middle East." "I was simply fulfilling my duties," answered Cukierman. "CRIF's missions are to fight anti-Semitism and to support Israel. I criticized what went wrong in the past and had shocked the organization and the community I represent. I'm talking about the constant (French) support of Yasser Arafat that did not promote peace. There was also the difficult issue of Al-Manar that has since been solved. But I also praised the French evolutions, like the support of the renewal of the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians; the recognition of the courageous character of the decision to withdraw from Gaza. I also noticed the active French involvement in the action to obtain the departure of the Syrian troops occupying Lebanon.

"Don't you think you are fuelling a new anti-Semitism and thus promoting (anti-Semitic stand-up comedian) Dieudonne, as (a French leading writer of the weekly Marianne) wrote it?"

"I will definitely not argue with someone using outrageous comparisons. To the contrary, I do claim with pride in the name of CRIF that I have played a major role in raising the awareness of the political class and of the civil society to the issue of anti-Semitism in France. I consider that the government did mobilize with resolution to reduce anti-Semitism in our country. We are on its side."

"Chirac and Bush are reconciled; Raffarin will soon be in Israel; what not consider that the French policy is changing?"

"We are living a new period of hope in the Middle East and we notice with satisfaction that the French diplomacy seems to adopt a more balance policy between Israel and the Palestinians. This is what CRIF had been asking for ages. One must accompany the renascent process of negotiation and we wish France to be actively associated with this new page being written."