Monday, April 26, 2010

Vive la France!

France is not in the Middle East. However, it is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe. At times, some of its politicians act fearful of fundamental Islamists. However, its communities recognize that Israel has its place in the world. No less than fourteen French communities and towns have a sister city/community in Israel.

1. Acre, Israel has a sister in France. La Rochelle has loved Israel since 1972.
2. Ashdod, Israel has a sister in France. Please make a toast to Bordeaux.
3. Beersheba, Israel has a sister in France. Meilleurs souhaites a Lyon!
Beersheba is the seventh largest city in Israel, with a population of 186,100. There are more than 550,000 people in the metropolitan area. It is often referred to as the capital of the Negev. It became a part of Israel in 1948, captured by the Israel Defense Force from a massed Egyptian army force after the Arabs rejected the UN Partition Plan which would have given the city to the Arabs. The city experienced its largest growth after 1990 when it absorbed emigrants from Ethiopia and the Soviet Union.
Lyon is situated between Paris and Marseilles. The residents are known as Lyonnais. The population of Lyon is 473, 300 or so. It is the second largest metropolitan area in France. Lyon is a business center. It is also known for its gastronomy, cinema, and football (aka, soccer).
4. Haifa, Israel has a sister in France. Harbor some love for Marseille.
5. Holon, Israel has a sister in France. J'aime meiux Suresnes
6. Nahariya, Israel has a sister in France. A votre sante, Issy-les-Moulineaux! Issy-les-Moulineaux and Nahariya have been sisters since 1994. It is 4.1 miles from the center of Paris. The commune was originally called Issy. Theories abound concerning the origin of the name, but the main one is that it was once the chateau of a Roman-Gallic landowner. Some think that it has a Celtic derivation meaning "under the wood." It was once a location for windmills, hence the name les Moulineaux was added (moulin is French for windmill). One of the best things to know about the area is that there are more jobs there than there are residents (Can we say "commuters" go there?). Nahariya is a coastal city of about 51,000 people in the Northern district of Israel. Nahariya gets its name from the beautiful Ga'aton River that run through the middle of its main east-west street, Ga'aton Boulevard. Unfortunately, the city is 6 miles from Lebanon. From July to August 2006 hundreds of Katyusha rocket were launched by Hizbullah and its allies from southern Lebanon, resulting in five fatalities and some serious damage. However, the city has nearly achieved its former appearance, and remains a great vacation resort.
7. Netanya, Israel has two sisters in France. Je vous aime Nice et Sarcelles.
8. Ramat Gan, Israel has a sister in France. Vive Strasbourg!
9. Ramat HaSharon, has two sisters in France. Dunkirk et Saint-Maur-des-Fosses.
10 Rehovot, Israel Vous presentez une soeur en Francais. Grenoble
11. Tel Aviv has two sisters in France. Toulouse et Cannes.

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