Foreign Minister Abba S. Eban invited the French ambassador, Bertrand de la Sabliere, to the Foreign Ministry today and handed him an official copy of the text of the Israel Cabinet’s statement on President de Gaulle’s anti-Israel, anti-Jewish utterances last Monday.
Mr. Eban told the French envoy that Gen. de Gaulle’s remarks had aroused emotions in this country and explained why the French chief of state’s words had aroused feelings here. He asked that the envoy transmit Israel’s protest to Paris and, at the same time, expressed the hope that Franco-Israel relations would improve and soon return to their traditional state.
In Tel Aviv today, members of the rightwing Herut Party put up posters today near the French Embassy bearing the slogan: “Long Live France! Down With de Gaulle!” This protest, as with most criticism here of the anti-Israel statements by President de Gaulle at his press conference in Paris, Monday, attempted to draw a distinct line between the French chief of state and the French people.
Gen. de Gaulle’s statements are considered to be anti-Semitic and derogatory of the entire Jewish people as well as hostile to the State of Israel, but most people here believe that the people of France have been and remain friendly and sympathetic to Israel and the Jewish nation.
Student groups are planning a mass demonstration on Sunday in the vicinity of the French Embassy at which they will protest Gen. de Gaulle’s statements and voice continued friendship for France.
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