Is Sarkozy Good for the Jews?

The news that Nicolas Sarkozy won France's presidential election on Sunday was greeted warmly here in Israel as the beginning perhaps of a friendlier relationship between the two countries. France has often been quicker to criticize the Jewish state than other western countries, perhaps because of (or despite?) it's history as a colonial power in the Arab world. But Sarkozy would be different -- the tribal thinking went -- if only because his mother is a Jew. "He could make aliya!" said an Israeli friend and fellow journalist, referring to the right of anyone who can claim matrilineal Jewish heritage to move, or rather, "ascend", to Israel and become a citizen.

But the honeymoon may already be over. Apparently, Israeli foreign ministry types are "shocked" and "disappointed" by reports that Sarkozy will name Socialist Hubert Vedrine to be France's Foreign Minister. Vedrine has already served in that post under French President Lionel Jospin and called for sanctions against Israel during the midst of the second intefada in 2000. Even worse, Vedrine advocates open dialogue between France and Hizballah, Hamas, Iran and Syria. Sacre-Bleu!

No doubt that will also displease supporters of Lebanon's anti-Syrian government, who are in the midst of a political standoff with Hizballah. The Lebanese are hoping that Sarkozy will continue the policies of outgoing President Jacques Chirac, who has been almost as hawkish towards Hizballah and Syria as President Bush. Chriac was such good friends with former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri -- who was assassinated in 2005, allegedly by Syria -- that when Chirac moves out of the Elysee Palace, he will move into a Paris apartment on loan from the Hariri family.

--Andrew Lee Butters/Jerusalem