“I cannot understand how the French government agreed to issue a death certificate based on false information,” Ambassador Nissim Zvili told reporters. “Even if a mistake was made several years ago because no one knew whom we are talking about, today it is clear the political significance of recording Jerusalem as Arafat’s birthplace.”
Another embassy official told Reuters, “We expect the truth to be revealed. History should not be altered.”
Arafat was born in Cairo, but he and his Arab biographers years ago started writing that he was born in Jerusalem. He actually was born in Cairo, where his Gaza-based father owned a business. When the ailing Arafat arrived in France, his wife Suha gave authorities their daughter’s birth certificate which falsely claims he was born n Jerusalem, according to the embassy official.
Zvili demanded the change Friday during a discussion in Montpelier, France, on French anti-Semitism. “The phenomenon of anti-Semitism in France has reached worrying proportions. There have been many attacks on Jews, against people and their possessions,” he added.
More than 2,000 French Jews move to Israel every year, according to Zivili. The Jewish population of 700,000 in France is the largest number in any European Union country.
Another embassy official told Reuters, “We expect the truth to be revealed. History should not be altered.”
Arafat was born in Cairo, but he and his Arab biographers years ago started writing that he was born in Jerusalem. He actually was born in Cairo, where his Gaza-based father owned a business. When the ailing Arafat arrived in France, his wife Suha gave authorities their daughter’s birth certificate which falsely claims he was born n Jerusalem, according to the embassy official.
Zvili demanded the change Friday during a discussion in Montpelier, France, on French anti-Semitism. “The phenomenon of anti-Semitism in France has reached worrying proportions. There have been many attacks on Jews, against people and their possessions,” he added.
More than 2,000 French Jews move to Israel every year, according to Zivili. The Jewish population of 700,000 in France is the largest number in any European Union country.