Tuesday July 20, 2:25 AM
Chirac tells Sharon he is not welcome in France: TV

AFP Photo

French President Jacques Chirac informed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon he is not welcome in Paris after he urged all French Jews to leave the country immediately, Israeli television reported.

Chirac had written that "after some weeks of contacts concerning such a visit it turns out that it is impossible ... and you are not welcome following your comments," according to Channel 2 television.

An Israeli foreign ministry government spokesman refused to comment on "confidential messages."

Sharon sparked anger in Paris with a speech on Sunday in which he urged all French Jews to move immediately to Israel in order to escape what he called the "spread of the wildest anti-Semitism".

The French foreign office has described Sharon's comments as "unacceptable."

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