« France was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Israel on May 11, 1949. », Recalls the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before adding: “ France has established a solid bilateral relationship with Israel, marked by constant support for the existence of this state. » Having said this, it should be added that France also and historically supports a two-state solution in the Middle East, Israel and Palestine. And this, in particular, since François Mitterrand’s speech to the Knesset in 1982.
An official position which, however, poorly masks a bilateral relationship made up of ups and downs. Return to the archives on the relationship between France and Israel since its creation.
THE ARCHIVES.
« The Fifth Republic had freed itself from the special and very close ties with Israel that the previous regime had established with this State. » France recognized Israel a year after its creation, in 1949. In the context of a France seeking to keep its historical geopolitical influence.
The two countries will even, following the fiasco of the Suez crisis in 1956, cooperate so that Israel obtains the atomic bomb. What the historian Pierre Razoux summarizes in his article Israel and nuclear deterrence : « Paris built the Dimona nuclear plant, in the Negev desert, turnkey, then withdrew at the beginning of the 1960s, following the injunctions of General de Gaulle who now knew he could count on an operational French atomic weapon, and who wished to stand out from Israel to promote France’s new Arab policy. The United States of America then takes over and closely supervises the Israeli military nuclear program. ».
This turnaround on nuclear power is the reflection of a broader movement, initiated by Charles de Gaulle and reinforced after the end of the Algerian war. It seeks in particular to strengthen France’s ties with Arab countries.
1967, a turning point in Franco-Israeli relations
Even if, once in power, Charles de Gaulle maintained normal relations with Israel, the rupture was consummated in 1967, after the six-day war and a speech perceived as anti-Semitic by part of French and Israeli public opinion. This is available at the top of the article.
Here is an excerpt: “ Some feared that the Jews, until then dispersed, but who had remained what they had always been, that is to say an elite people, sure of themselves and dominating, would come , once gathered in the site of their former greatness, to change into ardent and conquering ambition the very moving wishes that they had formed for nineteen centuries: next year in Jerusalem. »
Charles de Gaulle summarizes his analysis of Israeli foreign policy and France’s main orientations towards the Middle East: “ Since 1956, thanks to the Franco-British Suez expedition, we have seen the emergence of a warlike state of Israel determined to expand. And, then the action he took to double his population through the immigration of new elements, gave the impression that the territory he had acquired would not suffice for long and that he would be inclined to enlarge it to use it. any opportunity that presents itself. This is also why the Fifth Republic had freed itself vis-à-vis Israel from the special and very close links that the previous regime had established with this state. And the Fifth Republic, on the contrary, focused on promoting détente in the Middle East. Of course, we maintained cordial relations with the Israeli government and even provided it with weapons for its possible defense..
Finally, he assured to condemn the Israeli incursion during the six-day war, justifying the arms embargo decreed before the conflict. And denounced: “ Now he [Israël, ndlr] organizes on the territories it has taken, the occupation which cannot go without oppression, repression, expulsion. There is resistance against him, which in turn he describes as terrorism ».
1967 was a turning point and pushed Israel to strengthen other alliances, notably with the United States.
After Charles de Gaulle’s withdrawal from power, his successors pursued a similar policy. In 1974, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) obtained observer status at the UN thanks to the vote of several countries, including France.
1982, François Mitterrand in Israel
In 1982, the socialist François Mitterrand was the first French president of the Fifth Republic to visit Israel, a sign of his desire to reconnect with the country. He delivers a historic speech to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. He recalls the Franco-Israeli friendship, but also France’s historic position for a two-state solution in the conflict with the Palestinians.
