Israel objects to French statements

The Israeli ambassador to France, Elyahu Bin Elisar, has submitted an objection to the French Foreign Ministry over statements made by the French ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Bernard Pouliti, in which the French official held Israel responsible for the stumbled Middle East peace process.

The London-based "al-Sharq al-Awsat" (Middle East) daily said that diplomatic sources in Paris told it that the Israeli ambassador asked the French Foreign Ministry to give explanations concerning statements made by its ambassador in Riyadh, in which the statements voice an official French stand condemning Israel.

The sources indicated that the Israeli ambassador showed great anger over these statements, especially as they included official French support for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

In a French conference held on Sunday in al-Riyadh, the French ambassador expressed his country's respect to the national ambitions of the Palestinian people. He, thereby, indicated Paris' support for the right of the Palestinians to announce a Palestinian state and the responsibility of the Israeli government for the stumbled Middle East peace process.