[France] Message to Israel

[Alexander]

Empire de France
Ministère des Armées

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From: Duchesse Léa Moreau, Ministre des Armées, France
To: Emily Goldstein, Minister of Defense, Israel
Classification: Confidential

Subject: Military relations with Israel

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Your Excellency,

While I realize it is not usual for our respective Ministries to be the first points of contact between two nations, Her Imperial Majesty Thérèse of France has requested me to reach out before the regular diplomatic discussions due to the nature of the subjects discussed.

As a Christian Monarch, the Empress has a vested interest in the security of the Holy Land. While we realize the State of Israel is not a Christian state, it is in our opinion that the Christian people are better served with a Jewish in control of the holy sites rather than the Islamic savages. As a result the Empress would like to see an arrangement where a French unit may be tasked with protecting the Christian holy sites in a fully Israeli Jerusalem. To bring this end result about sooner she is willing to in turn offer the State of Israel significant defence cooperation in the forms of naval and air force technology that by our estimations the State of Israel could use at this time. She would also authorize me to discuss a treaty that would guarantee the mutual security of France and Israel.

If all of this sounds appealing to you and your government, I would like to suggest a meeting in Jerusalem so we can work out the details.

Sincerely,
Léa Moreáu,
Ministré des Armées,
Duchesse d'Aquitaine

Judea

 

[Judea]

משרד הביטחון​

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Official Message​

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Recipient: Duchess Léa Moreau, Minister of Defense <@.fr>
Sender: Emily Goldstein, Minister of Defense <egoldstein@cabinet.gov.il>
Date: 01-02-2003 11:30 UTC +2
Classification: Confidential

Subject: Re: Military relations with Israel

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Message:
Your Grace,

While it is indeed unusual for government officials from our respective Ministries to meet in person prior to our Heads of Government or Ministers of Foreign Affairs, it is not unheard of. I have discussed your message with President Weiss and Minister Levy, and all three of us agree that closer Israeli-French relations are desired. In particular we would love to hear more about your specific proposals on the topics you mentioned.

While we would not describe our Islamic subjects and neighbors with the same terms, we do welcome European recognition of the need for the ancient Kingdoms of Israel and Judah to once again be whole. While we already take great care to protect the religious institutions of all faiths under our flag, we are willing to discuss the presence of a small French security force inside Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Under the condition that these forces only act in self-defense or the defense of their charges unless specifically authorized by my Ministry. We would also welcome an aid package and further security cooperation.

I do believe it is wise for both of us to meet, as such I invite you to my Ministry in Tel Aviv. I look forward to meeting with you and discussing these topics in depth.

Sincerely,
Emily Goldstein,
Minister of Defense

Alexander

 

[Alexander]

With the invitation from Israel received Léa would board one of the five governmental Airbua A380s. While each of these craft were technically owned by Air France, they had been extensively modified to serve as in air homes and offices for entire Ministries and Press delegations. On this one no Press had been allowed and the pilots had been instructed to use the regular Air France transponder information rather than the specific ones for the governmental aircraft. This information had been shared in secret with the government of Israel so they would be aware of the aircraft and its diplomatic credentials per the Vienna Convention. On board would be in addition to the Duchess herself, a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and support staff from both Ministries.

Judea

 

[Judea]

Upon detecting the flight Air Traffic Controllers would guide it to Ben Gurion International Airport where a welcoming delegation consisting of staff from both the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been prepared. After welcoming their guests they were escorted to the Ministry of Defense building.

Once inside the building the French delegation would be guided to the top floor where Emily was already waiting with members of her staff. "Your Grace, it is my honor and pleasure to meet you in person. Welcome to the Holy Land" Emily spoke with a wide grin before extending her hand to her French counterpart. After concluding negotiations the French delegation would be guided to the conference room that had been deserved, with their side of the table distinguished by a French flag while the rest of the Israeli delegation was already seated. Aides would offer each of the French something to drink

"Thank you for coming so swiftly, because you were the first ones to reach out I think it is only fair that we let you begin"

 

[Judea]

Alexander

 

[Alexander]

While there was much to say for the French historical architecture and she would not trade her country of birth for any other, it was refreshing to at times see a country that had constructed their institutions later and as such used more modern architectural styles. This certainly applied to the Israeli example with the building having its own unique kind of beauty. After being escorted inside Léa would greet her French counterpart warmly. "Thank you for the warm welcome, Your Excellency. I look forward to making this the first step in a long and promising relationship between our two countries.

Once inside the conference room with everyone having taken their seats and Emily offering her to speak first, Léa turned her focus towards the other side of the table. "Thank you, your Excellency. The kindness with which you have received myself and my people is duly noted. As indicated in my original message. The Empress and France are the friends of the Jewish people and we support your ambition to annex the so called Palestinian Territories. While we do think the Israeli state is the most suitable to govern these territories, we would however be amiss in our duties to our own faith if we did not also act as an advocate for the Christian people of the Holy Land. While we have seen that Israel treats her Christian populace more than fair, France hopes that a unified Holy Land will also be safe for Christians to go on pilgrimage to our own holy sites. For this purpose we would like your consent to permanently position 500 members of the Azure Guard in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The Azure Guard is an elite protection unit of the Empress and of course inside your country they would only act in their own defence, or in the defence of the people and locations they protect. They would be available to you to be used for additional duties but will never engage in these on their own initiative.

Regardless of your consent we would also like to offer more direct support to Israel. While we ourselves are rebuilding our country, our position is a lot more secure than your own. For this reason we would like to offer a support package consisting of both a gift from the French state and a loan. The total package would consist of roughly 4 billion Francs worth of military equipment. 2 billion would be a gift from the French state and the other 2 billion an interest-free loan to be paid back within 24 months. The exact composition of the package is subject to negotiation. However my Ministry has prepared a proposal based on our estimations of what you are likely to need in the next few years" She paused for a moment to pass the top secret document, which at her orders had been cleared to be seen by her Israeli counterpart.

TOP SECRET
Military Aid Package Proposal - State of Israel

Your Grace,

Per your request we have prepared a comprehensive military aid package proposal based on our assessment of the State of Israel's current publicly known military capabilities and those of the Palestinian Authority and other factions active in the Palestinian Territories

Israeli Ground Forces:
Leclerc Tropicalized: 50*10,231,395.00= 511,569,750
CAESAR: 100*5,000,000.00= 500,000,000
VBL Mark 2: 100*262,000.00= 26,200,000
VAB Azure: 1,000*332,000.00= 332,000,000
Tiger HAP: 10*29,660,500.00= 296,605,000
IGF Total: 1,666,374,750

Israeli Air Force:
Dassault Rafale C F-3R: 75,267,888.00*5= 376,339,440
Dassault Mirage 2000 D: 36,973,999.88*10= 369,739,999
Dassault Mirage 2000-5F: 33,249,999.90*10= 332,499,999
IAF Total: 1.078.579.438
Israeli Navy:
Cassard Class Frigate: 2*164,000,000.00= 328,000,000
Floreal Class Frigate: 3*165,000,000.00= 495,000,000
La Fayette Class Frigate: 1*350,000,000.00= 350,000,000
IN Total: 1.173.000.000

IDF Total: 3.917.954.188
Service Costs: 82.045.812
Combined Total: 4,000,000,000

"Beyond this agreement we would also like to make an unwritten commitment to military support for Israel, with the possibility of making this a formal treaty in a future meeting between our respective superiors"

 

[Judea]

Emily looked over the document handed to her by the Duchess before passing it to one of her aides. "Well, I am not sure whether I should be more impressed or more concerned with how well France seems to be aware of our military needs and capabilities, but yes this is certainly a comprehensive enough package that it will allow us to deal with Hamas and any other group with relative ease. I can also agree to your proposed security commitment." She hesitated a second before turning to her Deputy Benjamin on her left-hand side. Somehow the two could always communicate without speaking just by looking each other in the eye. From that 'conversation' alone she knew they were both on the same page.

"Your Grace, let me repay your generosity and willingness to reveal your classified documents with my own. While the press is getting the perspective that the invasion is some far off point in the future, that is an intentional misdirect. We have intentionally made this year's draft larger than normal so the induction of 100,000 new soldiers can coincide with the planned invasion. The class is scheduled to graduate two weeks from now. While we had some doubts about our readiness, if you can produce and deliver the bulk of this equipment to us before that time it would allow us to actually launch the attack on that date. Our infantry numbers combined with the right air, ground and in this case even naval support would make a drawn-out possibly year-long conflict doable in a matter of months. Perhaps even shorter than that. We would of course also agree to the proposed deployment of the Azure Guard in those numbers and under those terms"She spoke, adding jokingly "As long as they aren't planning another crusade and Kingdom of Jerusalem"

Alexander

 

[Alexander]

With things going exceptionally well and the revelation of Israel's full plans, Léa decided to expand the French commitment to the Israeli cause, to also show publicly that they had their support. "Your Excellency, thank you so much for the information and your agreement to allow French forces to protect Christians and institutions. While I cannot speak for the rest of the Christian world, this symbol of respect will likely go very far in convincing other Christians of the worth of your cause. Because of this I wish to modify my earlier proposal and instead suggest a written accord outlining the things we have discussed." She said before passing a tablet to her Israeli counterpart with a draft treaty her aides had been preparing while they were talking.

Mutual Defence Treaty between the Empire of France and the State of Israel

Preamble

The Empire of France and the State of Israel, hereinafter referred to as "the Parties,"

Reaffirming their commitment to the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and international cooperation,

Recognising the common values they share, including democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law,

Desiring to strengthen their bilateral relations in the fields of defence, trade, intelligence sharing, technology, and religious tolerance,

Acknowledging the importance of safeguarding the security and well-being of their respective peoples,

Have agreed to the following Mutual Defence Treaty and Cooperation Agreement:

Article I - Mutual Defence

1. The Parties shall consider an armed attack against one of them as an attack against both. They will act in accordance with their constitutional processes to restore and maintain the security of the region.
2. Each Party pledges to provide assistance, including military support, to the other, upon request, in the event of aggression or threats to their territorial integrity, political independence, or internal stability.

Article II - Free Trade

1. The Parties will promote and facilitate free and fair trade between them. They will work towards reducing or eliminating trade barriers, tariffs, and non-tariff measures that hinder the flow of goods and services.
2. Both Parties shall encourage investment and cooperation between their business communities to strengthen economic ties.

Article III - Intelligence Sharing and Cooperation

1. The Parties shall exchange intelligence on matters affecting their mutual security and interests. This may include information related to terrorism, cyber threats, and other security concerns.
2. They will collaborate on efforts to counter transnational threats and share intelligence for the common goal of maintaining peace and security.

Article IV - Technology Sharing

1. The Parties shall promote the exchange of technological expertise, research, and development in various sectors, including but not limited to defence, agriculture, healthcare, and environmental technologies.
2. They will encourage joint research and development projects and initiatives to foster innovation and technological advancements.

Article V - Protection of Christian Holy Sites

1. The Empire of France is granted permission to station a detachment of Azure Guards within the Holy Land to protect Christian holy sites, pilgrims, and Christian communities in the region.
2. The Azure Guards will cooperate with local authorities and the State of Israel to ensure the security and preservation of Christian heritage in the Holy Land.

Article VI - Dispute Resolution

1. Any disputes arising from the interpretation or implementation of this treaty shall be resolved amicably through diplomatic means or negotiation.
2. In the event that a dispute cannot be resolved through diplomacy, the Parties may refer it to an arbitration tribunal or other agreed-upon dispute resolution mechanisms.

Article VII - Termination

This Treaty and Cooperation Agreement shall remain in force indefinitely unless either Party provides written notice of its intent to terminate. Termination shall become effective six months after the notice is given.

In witness whereof, the undersigned representatives, duly authorised by their respective governments, have signed this Mutual Defence Treaty and Cooperation Agreement.

Done in duplicate, in the English language, this 14th day of February, 2003.

For the Empire of France:

Duchesse Léa Moreau, Ministre des Armées

For the State of Israel:

[Signature]

Judea

 

[Judea]

Emily was taken aback by the French written commitment to their defense, she had in general assumed the French would be on their side but also assumed their reluctance to put it in writing reflected hesitation, apparently that hesitation was now gone.

"Very well, your Grace. I am not a diplomat myself but these terms are more than acceptable to me and my government" She replied before placing her signature under the document.

Alexander