PARIS, May 8, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The pro-Arab stances of French President Jacques Chirac, who celebrates Sunday, May 8, his tenth anniversary in office, have irked the powerful Jewish lobby to the extent of calling him a “caliph” in the Elysee.

The French leader’s presidency has been marked by sharp criticism of Israeli aggressions against Palestinians and staunch opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq, in addition to his well-known penchant for Arab culture.

The “caliph” in the Elysee was first used by a French Jewish writer after Chirac, regarded as one of the most powerful and successful presidents in French history, lambasted the Israeli government for a grisly attack on the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jenin in April 2002.

At the time, Chirac summoned the Israeli ambassador in Paris, demanding that his government respect international law.

Israeli occupation troops, backed by Apache attack helicopters and up to 400 tanks, launched a two-week incursion into the refugee camp, killing at least 62 civilians and injuring hundreds more, including women and children.

The popular president, called by the French “un bon gars” – a grand lad – also angered Jews after championing an international call to lift a crippling Israeli blockade on late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat.

The Jewish pressures climaxed when Arafat was taken on October 29 aboard a French government jet to the Percy military hospital near Paris, where the emblematic Palestinian leader breathed his last.

As his health condition severely deteriorated, Chirac was keen on visiting Arafat at his hospital bed.

Chirac had also told hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that he was unwelcome in France.

More recently, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah revealed that assassinated former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, who a close friend of Chirac, used his good offices with the French leader not to bow to American-Jewish pressures to blacklist the Lebanese resistance group.

Chirac stood up firmly to Bush’s overtures to support the Iraq war. (White House)

Anti-War Activist

Chirac has also earned the reputation of a staunch anti-Iraq war icon.

Dismissing the war as “illegal,” he said the US adventure in the Arab country has made the world less safe and helped fan terrorism worldwide.

Chirac said he understood that US President George W. Bush would not change his mind on Iraq, asserting that nor would France.

“This is not disrespect towards each other,” he told the BBC in a 2003 interview.

“We have two distinct analyses and we draw two different conclusions. History will tell who is wrong and who is right.”

Friendly to Islam

Despite his anti-hijab stance, Chirac was the first French president to have met with French Muslim leaders.

Islam, which has been officially recognized in the country under his presidency, is France's second religion after Catholicism with Muslims making up six million of the population.

Chirac was also quick to condemn arson attacks on mosques in France, assuring the Muslim minority of his sympathy and support.

Several mosques in France have come under a string of racist attacks and arsons.

Last year, mosques and Muslim graves in two cemeteries were defaced with swastikas and Neo-Nazi slogans.

Unique Politician

Born on 29 Novembre 1932, Chirac was inspired by General Charles de Gaulle to enter public life.

His first high-level post came in 1972 when he became minister of agriculture and rural development, accroding to the Elysee Web site.

In 1974 Chirac was appointed minister of the interior and shortly afterwards became prime minister at the age of 41.

He resigned as prime minister in 1976, establishing his own political party, the Rally for the Republic.

A year later, he became the mayor of Paris and held the powerful post from 1977 to 1995.

His 18-year term as mayor of Paris finally proved the launching pad for his first successful presidential bid.

On his third attempt to win the presidency, Chirac narrowly beat Socialist Party challenger Lionel Jospin in May 1995.

He was re-elected in 2002 for a second term in office, overpowering right-wing politician Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front by a landslide.