Bertrand Delanoë was received by President Shimon Peres, who underscored the difficulties in making progress on the Israel-Palestine peace process, due to the political weakness of the players. It is now considered likely that Ehud Olmert will be replaced as Prime Minister of Israel.
Shimon Peres emphasised the importance of strengthening the economy, without which peace is not conceivable. He has restarted his project for creating a development zone in the Arava valley, a zone capable of creating partnerships and generating up to a million jobs. This project will perhaps be highlighted in quite a spectacular way during the forthcoming visit of President Sarkozy to Israel.
It is quite likely that Europe will be more involved in the region in the coming months because of the forthcoming American presidential elections and French presidency of the European Union. President Peres also underlined the role played by emotion in the Middle Eastern conflict: without the visit of President Sadat to Israel, the Camp David agreements and the withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula would not have been conceivable. President Peres expressed the hope that a visit by Syrian President Bashir el Assad to the Knesset might one day unblock relations with Syria.
The Parisian delegation met with the Mayor of Jerusalem, Uri Lupolianski. Bertrand Delanoë inaugurated a fountain, built in France thanks to help from the City of Paris, in “Paris Square” in the centre of Jerusalem.
In numerous speeches, Bertrand Delanoë expressed his deep emotion and longstanding friendship for Israel, a country he has visited on many occasions even before he became Mayor of Paris. Mr Delanoë emphasised the need for Palestinians to have a viable State, the prosperity of which would guarantee peace, adding that the Paris City Authorities would soon be organising an event on their behalf.
The Mayor of Paris concluded his trip with a visit to the Technion and the Tel Aviv City Hall.
English
Français