Where I Stand: France should blush for the conduct of its president

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

FRENCH PRESIDENT Jacques Chirac again displayed the arrogance long associated with his nation. His most recent visit to the Middle East and personal conduct in Israel makes the past imperious performances of the late Charles de Gaulle appear correct in every diplomatic way.

Chirac entered Israel much like you could expect a child tracking mud across the kitchen floor. The child at least would show some signs of repentance but that would be beneath the arrogant Frenchman. He went so far as to yell at Israeli security people assigned to protect him in the narrow streets of Jerusalem.

Chirac went to the Middle East to pick an argument with the Israelis and develop stronger ties with Arab nations. Why? Well, for purposes of trade and money and to interject France's influence in an area that the Arabs had kicked them out of many years ago.

For example, Chirac spent much of his time kissing up to Syrian butcher Hafez Al-Assad and his Lebanese puppet Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Both countries, now controlled by Assad, were at one time French colonies.

Following meetings with Assad and Hariri, the Frenchman, among other demands, called for Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights and the buffer zone in southern Lebanon. Kind of wild for a man now representing a country that sold out from within and collapsed when attacked by Germany in World War II and then turned thousands of Jews over to the Nazis. Yes, he leads the country which denied U.S. bombers the right to overfly it on the way to bomb Libya during the Reagan administration.

France has long been jealous of the major role the U.S. has been and is playing in the Middle East. Chirac eagerly went there to show that France also wants part of the action and has in effect set back the peace process even further than it has retreated in recent months.

It's a shame that personal arrogance overcame any semblance of common sense or decency that might exist in the head of Chirac. Good manners we couldn't expect from the leader of France.

Chirac came to the Middle East and dealt with the likes of Assad and Hariri and gave no consideration to the feelings of Lebanese people.

In January an announcement in Israeli newspapers told readers: "The existence of a free Lebanon is the only guarantee of Israel's security and peace on its northern border. This is a strategic reality. The cultural affinities between Lebanon and Israel are stronger than any other ties that could be formed in the region. The Lebanese Christians, in particular, are the Middle East nation closest and friendliest to the Jewish people of Israel. This is a geopolitical reality."

The announcement paid for by The World Lebanese Organization asked that the Israeli people:

* "Not under any circumstance to abandon south Lebanon's population and free areas, so long as a just and comprehensive solution for Lebanon is not found.

* "To help the free areas of south Lebanon exercise their right of self-determination within the framework of an alliance with Israel.

* "To assist the Lebanese resistance worldwide to raise the issue of Syrian occupation and to call for the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon.

* "To consult with the representatives of the free Lebanese communities, in the 'security zone' and in the diaspora on the peace process with Lebanon and the future relations between the two countries."

The Chirac show smelled from beginning to end. He couldn't care less about the hopes and dreams of real people. Chirac came not to promote peace, but attempted to regain the glory that France lost in that area long ago. Again France flashed little power and an abundance of bad manners and arrogance.