Israel's Welfare Minister Yitzchak Herzog (Labor) met with French Ambassador to Israel, Christophe Bigot. During the meeting the two men discussed French involvement being a significant factor in the international community's attempt to avert a humanitarian disaster in Libya.

MK Herzog asked what position France would take on Syria. Bigot replied replied that France, and the world, is waiting with great attention for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's speech. This speech, he implied, would be a key factor setting the stage for relations between Syria and world, and would have significant impact on the attitude of France, led by President Sarkozy, towards Assad's regime.

During the meeting the issue Gilad Shalit's status was also raised. The young soldier's fate, Bigot said, concerns the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, who has not forogttern him and is working in the background to assist mediation efforts by German officials. Shalit, who was born in France, holds both French and Israeli citizenship.

During the meeting Herzog thanked Bigot for French support and willingness to condemn recent terror attacks in Israel.

Perhaps most importantly, Herzog, who recently took over leadership of the Labor party, reiterated his firm belief the world is in a fog and that Israel must launch its own diplomatic initiative for peace with Arab's in Judea and Samaria.