ISRAEL AT WAR ON PURIM

Already 3300 years ago Amalek tried to erase Israel, followed by his descendant Haman 2500 years ago, and only 29 months ago by their spiritual heirs Hamas and Iran, in order to "destroy, massacre, and exterminate all the Jews, young and old, children and women" (Book of Esther ch 3, v 13). They failed and Israel is still standing on its feet, fighting back. 

We are living tough days, worrying for the safety of our dear ones, be they living close to us or mobilized at the front, but we keep being resilient and united "as one man with one heart", and every Israeli can be proud of the other.

May this Purim period end with good news and bring us all closer to true and long peace times. Meanwhile take care and keep safe. Purim sameach.

Welcome to the CCIIF website. It will keep you informed about the Chamber's activities and events, as well as current economic and trade news between Israel and France. It also includes a dedicated area for active CCIIF members.

The Israel-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry was founded in 1957 to help Israeli and French businesses establish and develop trade relations. Since then, we have provided them with a forum where they can benefit from support and assistance through professional networking and expert advice. In addition, the Chamber regularly organizes events such as conferences on the Israeli economy, meetings with Israeli and French leaders, ceremonies recognizing excellence in business relations, and other networking opportunities.

Diplomacy has its ups and downs; good news and bad news can alternate, but the CCIIF's focus is on business, not politics, and we concentrate on the potential outcomes between Israel and France. The remarkably enduring Abraham Accords serve as a prime example of the goals we should strive to achieve.

Despite the upheavals caused by the coronavirus and the war in recent years, the Israel-France Chamber of Commerce has taken several initiatives to continue providing added value to its members and helping them optimize their operations. This new website is the latest example, and we hope you enjoy it.

It is with undisguised pleasure that the French of Israel welcomed Aurore Bergé, Minister for Gender Equality and Fight against Discrimination, the first member of the French government to visit Israel in more than 15 months. Woman of conviction, Ms Bergé is one of the few political figures in office to support with courage and perseverance Israel as a state, in the face of the mobs that attack it and of the doxa of the moment, which probably explains why she was chosen for this visit.

The Franco-Israeli business community that met with her, is counting in any case on Ms Bergé to emphasize to her commissioners the importance of breaking the stalemate in trade agreements between the two countries, if one wants to avoid a deadlock that would harm both sides. If one wants to restore the low profile adopted by many companies when it comes to Israel and put an end to the self-censorship that paralyzes their senior executives, it is urgent to say so clearly.

The example must come from above, knowing that in France the State controls a large part of the economic flows: encouragement of Israel’s presence at national conferences and exhibitions, visits by members of government or even the president to its booths, contracts awarded by large French groups, etc...

On its own a swallow certainly doesn’t make spring, but if it brings many others in its wake, the beautiful days have a chance to come back.

Julien Roitman 
Executive Chairman, CCIIF