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Madam Speaker of the Knesset,
Honorable President of the Fifth Republic of France, and Mrs. Sarkozy,
President of the State of Israel,
Ministers of the Government of France,
Honorable French Ambassador to Israel, and Members of the President's Delegation,
Israeli Government Ministers,
Chairman of the Opposition,
Members of Knesset,
The State of Israel is honored to host you, Mr. President, as the head of a great nation, rich in culture and creation and with an inspiring legacy, and a trusted friend and consistent, firm supporter of Israel's right to security and quest for peace. The Israeli Knesset is proud to have you here and we welcome you, your wife and your delegation, with a warm, enthusiastic greeting.
This is not your first visit to our land, but in every meeting with you and on every visit – yours in Jerusalem or mine in Paris – we add another cornerstone to the foundations of the strong friendship between our nations and countries.
Your visit here, as we mark the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel, has special meaning this time. I cannot forget the moving statements you made in the past regarding the State of Israel being a miracle. Your impressions of your visit to Yad Vashem, and your personal words in a letter for the ceremony commemorating the community of Salonica Jews who perished in the Holocaust, touched our hearts deeply.
We value your announcement that Israel's security is entirely non-negotiable, and your strong, firm stand against the threat of a nuclear Iran, whose President openly threatens to wipe Israel off the map.
Mr. President,
The establishment and existence of the State of Israel are indeed a miracle. However, it is not a miracle achieved by a magic wand, but rather through a supreme effort, with hard work and struggle, rife with sacrifice – in blood, sweat and tears. Still, the revival of Israel is a unique marvel, unprecedented in the history of nations. The prayers, hopes and vision of generations of a persecuted, oppressed nation, scarred by the Holocaust, was transformed into a reality.
The very fact that we are sitting here today, at the House of Representatives of the sovereign Israeli democracy, in Jerusalem our eternal capital, 1,938 years after the destruction of our Temple; the very fact that we speak a revived ancient language, the original language of the Bible, the same language in which Israel's Prophets, in this city, introduced to the world the vision of faith, justice and peace; the very fact that members of the Jewish nation gathered here from all corners of the universe, from over 100 countries, and founded a creative, vibrant multi-cultural society, and an independent, strong, thriving and progressive nation; the very fact that a scattered, helpless people took its fate in its own hands and learned how to defend itself – all these, and much more, are indeed, as you defined, Mr. President, a miracle.
It was the State of Israel's first leader, David Ben-Gurion, who said: "he who does not believe in miracles is not a realist". The reality of 110 years of Zionism and 60 years of statehood proves that there is probably truth to this paradox.
Distinguished audience,
In the six decades which have passed, the relations between France and Israel have known ups and downs. In the 1950's, when the young Israel was facing waves of terrorism and threats of annihilation, and its enemies were being armed with large quantities of sophisticated weapons from the Soviet Union, France was one of the few countries which stood by Israel and supplied it with defensive weapons.
Throughout the years, even if there were disagreements and fleeting crises, the foundations of friendship between the two nations never cracked. Under your leadership, this friendship again prospers and blossoms, simultaneously with the further consolidation of mutual ties and interests, and the strengthening of France's status and contribution to peace and stability in our region. Today, there are no more barriers to the further development of our bilateral relations.
The ties between France and Israel in the political, cultural, scientific, economic and security fields are expanding and deepening. The French people and its leaders firmly denounced and acted to uproot manifestations of anti-Semitism in French society. You, sir, have gone far and beyond, and were even awarded the prestigious Tolerance Prize by the Simon Wiesenthal Center for your battle against anti-Semitism.
For this, you have the deepest appreciation of the people of Israel and the large Jewish community in France.
Cultural cooperation is often a mirror to the depth of relations between countries. I am proud of the fact that the cultural relations between Israel and France has, in recent years, reached new heights.
French and Israeli creators cooperate in the fields of music, literature and film. Festivals displaying the flags of both nations host and are being hosted in our country and in France.
I believe that by doing so, we are adding another dimension to the relations between our two countries and deepening the bond between the people of Israel and the people of France.
The foundations for the France-Israel Fund were recently laid, and it has already begun extensive activities to strengthen the friendship and understanding between our people, underscore our common denominators, improve each other's image, build new bridges and seek further channels to advance our bilateral ties.
These days, as you will learn, an exhibition of photographs produced by the Fund is being held here at the Knesset, an exhibition of pictures documenting and displaying, more than a thousand words can do, the richness, depth and complexity of Israel-France relations throughout the years.
Members of Knesset,
In the coming month, France will begin its term as President of the European Union. I am confident that this will be an excellent opportunity to upgrade the relations between Israel and the European Union, and steer the Union, under your stewardship, toward a unified and uncompromising stand against terror organizations, terror-sponsoring states and the Iranian nuclear threat, and in favor of the moderate elements within the Arab world and the advancement of comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
President Nicolas Sarkozy,
You, your wife and your distinguished delegation are our very dear guests.
For your leadership, courage and firm principles, for your friendship and sentiments toward Israel and for everything you represent in France's values and flag, I salute you, in the name of the people of Israel and on behalf of the State of Israel, a state which aspires to another miracle – the miracle of peace – and believes it will ultimately come.
Welcome to Israel!
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