France’s president-elect vowed to support Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s office said Tuesday that he had spoken by phone with Nicolas Sarkozy to congratulate him on his victory in Sunday’s second round of voting to succeed Jacques Chirac.The statement added that the conservative Sarkozy “thanked Prime Minister Olmert and said: ‘I am a friend of Israel and Israel can always rely on my friendship.’ “The two leaders expect to meet and discuss Middle East issues after Sarkozy is inaugurated, Olmert’s office said. Many Israelis see Sarkozy’s election as a chance for France to redress foreign policies that are considered strongly pro-Arab.
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