CAN ISRAEL GET COZY WITH SARKOZY? A reader writes to The Corner:

As an American living in Paris and married to a Frenchman, let me point out a few things: 85.5 % voter turnout is not only amazing, it is also without precedent. Even in France, 75% voter turnout only last happened 40 years ago. This was a HUGE election. Every last granny in the nursing home went to the polls. 53-47 under those circumstances is one helluva mandate and Sarkozy knows it.

OK, so what will Sarkozy do with his 'mandate'? According to the reader, in his acceptance speech, Sarkozy said:

"...and let me say to our American friends, they can count on our friendship."

What about Israel?

According to The Jerusalem Post:

Last March, he asserted that French decision-makers should be able "to say a certain number of truths to our Arab friends, for example, the right for Israel to exist and to live safely is not negotiable, and that terrorism is their true enemy." He also declared himself ready to defend "the integrity of Lebanon," including the disarmament of Hizbullah.

The Heritage Foundation goes even further:

Sarkozy’s stance on the Israeli-Lebanon war represented another break with French foreign policy. Sarkozy was not afraid to condemn Hezbollah as the aggressor and spoke up for Israel’s right “to defend herself.” While urging that Israel should “maintain level headedness and restraint,” he refused to join the European Union (EU) chorus calling for a total ceasefire. In fact, his policy was remarkably similar to that of the United States and marked Sarkozy as a sensible voice on the Middle East in Europe.

A 'sensible voice on the Middle East in Europe'--What does that sound like again?

Technorati Tag: Nicolas Sarkozy and France and Israel.