Rivlin thanks French victor Macron for stance against anti-Semitism
Without mentioning Le Pen, Israeli president says hatred of Jews rearing its head around world, pledges support to new French president in standing up to racism
President Reuven Rivlin on Monday congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his victory in the French presidential elections, thanking him for his strong opposition to anti-Semitism and offering Israel’s help in countering terrorism.
“I want to thank you for your strong stance against anti-Semitism, and all forms of racism, which have once again raised their ugly heads around the world,” Rivlin wrote in an official letter.
“Standing up to such voices of intolerance and hatred, defending our citizens against vicious acts of terror, is a task of paramount importance that stands before us all, and Israel is your partner in this mission,” he told Macron, a 39-year-old former investment banker who has never held elected office before.
Macron, a centrist, won the presidency on Sunday with 66 percent of the vote, beating his far-right rival Marine Le Pen of the National Front party. He will be sworn in next Sunday.
“I know that on your visit here in 2015, you were greatly impressed by Israeli innovation and technologies,” Rivlin said. “I share your deep belief in innovation as an engine for both economic and social prosperity for all peoples. Moreover, our growing cooperation and partnerships in this area offer a solid foundation for the ongoing deepening and strengthening of the strong ties between our two peoples, and two countries.
“I hope that the relations of friendship and cooperation between France and Israel will continue to expand and strengthen under your presidency.”
“Allow me to wish you much success and personal satisfaction in this highly significant and challenging role as leader of France, ” Rivlin said.
On the eve of the election Macron stated in a French television interview that he backs a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that unilaterally recognizing Palestine would cause instability and would harm France’s relations with Israel.
Le Pen, 48, had portrayed the ballot as a contest between the “globalists” represented by her rival — those in favor of open trade, immigration and shared sovereignty — against the “nationalists” who defend strong borders and national identities
The vote, falling in the middle of a three-day weekend, was the first in the six decades of the Fifth Republic in which neither the traditional left nor right parties had a candidate.
Despite his convincing win, Macron must now pull together a majority of lawmakers for his year-old political movement to run in the mid-June legislative election.
His party is changing its name to La Republique En Marche (Republic on the Move) as it prepares a list of candidates. Macron has promised that half of those candidates will be new to elected politics, as he was before his victory Sunday.
Macron will be France’s youngest-ever president and was a virtual unknown before his two-year stint as economy minister, the launchpad for his presidential bid.
He left the Socialist government in August and formed En Marche! (On the Move), a political movement he says is neither of the left nor the right and which has attracted 250,000 members.
Macron campaigned on pledges to cut state spending, ease labor laws, boost education in deprived areas and extend new protections to the self-employed.
He is also fervently pro-European and wants to re-energize the soon-to-be 27-member European Union, following Britain’s referendum vote last June to leave.
Agencies contributed to this report.
