Yachimovich, in Paris, asks French president to step up pressure on Iran
Labor leader says she's 'inspired' by victory of Hollande's socialist party 'during an acute financial and social crisis in Europe'
Labor Party leader Shelly Yachimovich on Thursday called France a “powerful actor” in the Middle East, and asked the French president to use his country’s power to exert greater pressure on Iran and help step up the sanctions against its nuclear program.
Yachimovich made the comments during a meeting with French President François Hollande at the Élysée Palace in Paris.
In addition to speaking about the Middle East, Yachimovich also praised Hollande, the leader of the French Socialist Party, for trying to reduce social inequalities in France.
She described their meeting as “fascinating” on her Facebook page, and went on to write: “The victory of Hollande, a socialist, in recent elections, as well as the socialists’ clear majority in the Senate and National Assembly, is inspiring.”
“I have a lot of sympathy for the new socialist government in France, which rose to power during an acute financial and social crisis in Europe,” she added.
Israel’s Ambassador to France Yossi Gal and French Ambassador to Israel Christophe Bigot also attended the meeting. Earlier Thursday, Yachimovich also met with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
On Friday, Yachimovich is set to speak at the annual meeting of academic members of the French Socialist Party in La Rochelle, western France.
She is also scheduled to meet with Interior Minister Manuel Valls and Socialist Party Secretary Martine Aubry.