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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Sarkozy urges settlement freeze | Sarkozy urges settlement freeze |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for an end to Jewish settlement construction on Palestinian land, in an address to Israeli MPs. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for an end to Jewish settlement construction on Palestinian land, in an address to Israeli MPs. |
| He told the Israeli Knesset that without this there would be no lasting peace in the Middle East. | |
| On the first French state visit to Israel in 12 years, he said a peace agreement would allow the two peoples to live in peace and security. | On the first French state visit to Israel in 12 years, he said a peace agreement would allow the two peoples to live in peace and security. |
| Mr Sarkozy also told MPs that France would not accept a nuclear-armed Iran. | Mr Sarkozy also told MPs that France would not accept a nuclear-armed Iran. |
| Earlier on Monday the French president and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, where he rekindled the eternal flame. | Earlier on Monday the French president and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, where he rekindled the eternal flame. |
| Mr Sarkozy has met Israeli leaders and is due to go on to hold talks with Palestinian leaders. | Mr Sarkozy has met Israeli leaders and is due to go on to hold talks with Palestinian leaders. |
| Admiration for Israel | |
| "There can be no peace without stopping settlement," Mr Sarkozy told members of the Knesset. | |
| "There is a proposal backed by many members of your Knesset for the adoption of a law that would encourage settlers to leave the West Bank in exchange for compensation and relocation in Israel," he added. | |
| Mr Sarkozy has called on Israel to take "risks for peace". | |
| Correspondents say the French president's admiration for Israel is in contrast to his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, who was widely seen as pro-Arab. | Correspondents say the French president's admiration for Israel is in contrast to his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, who was widely seen as pro-Arab. |
| Mr Sarkozy was greeted on his arrival at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres. | Mr Sarkozy was greeted on his arrival at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres. |
| Speaking at the airport, Mr Sarkozy said: "I have always been and will always be a friend of Israel... | Speaking at the airport, Mr Sarkozy said: "I have always been and will always be a friend of Israel... |
| "An agreement is possible, tomorrow, and that agreement would allow the two peoples to live side-by-side in peace and security." | "An agreement is possible, tomorrow, and that agreement would allow the two peoples to live side-by-side in peace and security." |
| "I am more convinced than ever that the security of Israel will only be truly guaranteed with the birth of a second state, a Palestinian state." | "I am more convinced than ever that the security of Israel will only be truly guaranteed with the birth of a second state, a Palestinian state." |
| From the airport, France's first couple headed to Jerusalem for talks with Mr Peres, followed by dinner with Mr Olmert. | From the airport, France's first couple headed to Jerusalem for talks with Mr Peres, followed by dinner with Mr Olmert. |
| After addressing the Knesset, Mr Sarkozy plans to travel to the West Bank town of Bethlehem for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday. | After addressing the Knesset, Mr Sarkozy plans to travel to the West Bank town of Bethlehem for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday. |