The Dixmude docked at Haifa Port on July 9 and held a reception the next day. It was an auspicious day for France, as the national team was playing in Russia in the World Cup semifinals against Belgium. The 400 French soldiers aboard the ship were eagerly awaiting the game.
Before the game, French Ambassador Hélène Le Gal came up from Tel Aviv to meet the captain of the ship, Jean Porcher, and Christine Ribbe, commander of the frigate Surcouf, which was docked nearby.
“It is always an exceptional event to greet a ship the size of Dixmude, jewel of the French Navy,” said the ambassador.
Touring the bridge of the ship, she said that recent exercises with the Israel Navy showed how closely the two countries were working together. “We are very present in this part of the Mediterranean Sea, and it is linked to operations in Syria. Although the Dixmude was in Asia, this is the 11th stop of the French Navy [in Israel] this year.
I’m really proud to have this vessel here.”
France and Israel held a joint drill off the coast of France that was the first of its kind in 55 years. The INS Eilat and INS Kidon traveled to Toulon on June 21. After five days at sea, the corvette and missile boat conducted a joint exercise with the French Navy. Alongside the French Navy’s frigate La Fayette, they practiced with helicopters, guns and with antiaircraft scenarios.
“France sees Israel as a strong maritime partner in the region,” Capt. Ronen Hajaj, head of the Navy’s Training and Doctrine Department, said. Adm. Eli Sharvit, commander of the Navy, met with his French counterpart, Adm. Christophe Parzuk.
“In the current era, in which many changes are taking place, the point of view of Israel’s naval arm must be global,” Sharvit said…..
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://m.jpost.com/Magazine/20000-TONS-OF-DETERRENCE-The-Israeli-French-strategic-partnership-563444