Monday, Apr. 24, 1972

Com

Next week is "French Week" in Jerusalem. Its goal is to improve Franco-Israeli relations, which disintegrated after Charles de Gaulle branded Israel an aggressor five years ago and refused to deliver 50 Mirage jets that Israel had already paid for.

The path to cordiality is proving thorny. Israel took umbrage when France, in the midst of the planning for French Week, joined Arab and Communist countries in voting for a U.N. Commission on Human Rights resolution that referred to Israeli "war crimes." The Israelis also demurred when Paris decided to send a political old-timer--Assembly Member Louis Joxe, an ex-Justice Minister--instead of a current Cabinet Minister to next week's dedication of a maison de France at the Hebrew University.

The final insult was France's refusal to send official representation to the opening of a display of Paris city planning at Jerusalem's new $2,500,000 municipal theater. Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek will preside, and the Quai d'Orsay felt that sending a delegation would compromise the French position that Jerusalem is an international city.

After heated protests from the Israelis, a compromise was worked out. Jean Cherioux, president of the municipal council of Paris and thus its unofficial mayor, will attend the theater ceremonies as the city's representative. Afterward, he, Kollek and other guests will attend a Comedie Franc,aise performance of Marivaux's Les Fausses Confidences, which revolves around misunderstandings between lovers.

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