French Ambassador Frédéric Journès, alongside French Consul in Haifa Georges Denier, and the political and cultural attachés of the embassy, visited the Mossawa Center for a crucial meeting with a group of Arab women in local authorities and activists. The delegation met with prominent figures including Dr. Nuha Badr from Al-Maghar, Aisha Morsi from Akka, lawyer Marianne Abi Nader, Ms. Barry Bahaj, and Ms. Kitty Makhoul. Mossawa Center board member Kamel Barghouti and Professor Ibrahim Geris also joined the discussion.
During the meeting, Ambassador Journès and his staff engaged with the Mossawa Center’s team, including Director Jafar Farah, Executive Director Suha Salman Musa, and International Advocacy Coordinator Dr. Rawda Marcos Makhoul. They discussed the significant role of the international community, especially France, in addressing the ongoing war and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. France's recent stance in rejecting Israel's participation in arms fairs was acknowledged as a step towards limiting escalation.
In addition to the meeting at the Mossawa Center, Ambassador Journès visited Wadi Nisnas, where he was briefed on the current conditions of the neighborhood amidst the war. The visit included a stop at the Haifa Gallery, where the Ambassador was introduced to the vibrant Arab artistic and cultural scene in the city.
This visit came at a time when the Mossawa Center had launched a public appeal, urging international institutions to take immediate action to stop the ongoing war in Gaza and Lebanon. The Mossawa Center also raised alarm over the increasing attempts by Israeli political forces to marginalize and target the Palestinian Arab community within Israel.
The visit by the French delegation underscored the importance of international intervention in supporting peace efforts and defending the rights of Arab citizens in Israel, especially during such critical times.