THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 26 Friday, August 1 1980 2.5 Million Arabs in France to Become Political Force Mack Pitt and his Orchestra By EDWIN EYTAN PARIS (JTA) — There are plus probably more Arabs living in France today than in all Disco of Israel, including the Music just for you occupied territories. One- and-a-half million are reg- 358-3642 istered as permanent resi- ses ohm es - — so um • • -al .:. • as HAIR REMOVED FOREVER; I 1 1 I I 1 I I I I Men & Women NEW SOLID STATE MACHINES I 1, I I Fast • Safe • Permanent Free Consultation 1 Dorothy Stofer I Formerly of Northland Center I 16231 14 Mile Road (Betw. Southfield & Greenfield) Il I 647-3432 111111111•111.1•11101111111111111•111111111111111.1111•1•11•1•111111011111190119111111/1 YOUR HELPING HAND AT TOWNSHIP HALL Paid for by Betty Sue Dupree Campaign Fund, 7230 Stonebrook, West Bloomfield, Mi 48033 PEARL SCISSORS - BUCKLES UNLIMITED I SUPER BELT SALE ISRAELI IMPORTED BUCKLES . . . $9 each HAND MADE — SOLID BRASS 35 Designs — Holy Land History M-GO-BLUE BUCKLES $5.00 dents _in France and an additional million are be- lieved to be living in France either as illegal immigrants or under the guise of tem- porary visitors. During the last 10 years, France's Arab community with its 43 mosques, 22 newspapers, dozens of schools, hospitals and banks has become a vital economic force and an important political factor. French politicians and businessmen take into ac- count its political aspira- tions and its economic interests. One Rolls Royce out of every two registered in France belongs to a Middle Eastern Arab visitor, and one industrial worker out of .every 20 is a North African immigrant. Lebanese refu- gees float some of France's major banking loans, others own large blocs of shares in major industrial enterprises. Many of these new- comers now represent large French corpora- tions in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states handling huge sums and indirectly controlling a heavy share of France's exports to the Arab world. Since January 1977, in slightly over three years, 29 new Arab-owned banks have opened in France to handle the huge amount of cash passing through the country. sad Arab Influence Spreads in France Now Available – German Silver Buckles MOST PEARL SCISSORS "THE BUCKLE LADY" BUCKLES 3 FOR $11 All along the Champs Elysees, Paris' main ave- nue, Lebanese restaurants have opened to cater to this new clientele. The former "Regine's," once the center of the Paris jet set society, has passed into new hands and renamed The Beirut." Lebanese Tyre wine is flown EACH OVER "1,200" DIFFERENT STYLES LARGEST BUCKLE DISPLAY IN MICHIGAN 2240 COOLIDGE 5 BLKS. N. OF 11-MILE BERKLEY, MI 48072 545-5885 Malay titre Saterday 10-6 — Free Partieg 41 LAWRENCE M. ALLAN President GEMOLOGIST DIAMONTOLOGIST SEE OUR WIDE SELECTION OF DIAMOND STUD EARRINGS AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES 30%-50% OFF DIANA N OUR SPECIALTY VISA' 30400 TELEGRAPH • BIRMINGHAM LOCATED AT 121/2 Mile SUITES 104/134 Awarded Certificate by GIA in Grading & Evaluation in by special plane and Arab bakeries throughout Paris now prepare fresh pita like in the suks of Cairo or Damascus. One of Paris' landmarks, the world famous Ritz Hotel, has been bought by an Egyptian resident; the Cafe de la Paix, where gen- erations of tourists tradi- tionally sat, is owned by a Kuwaiti company. The ele- gant Prince de Galles Hotel, where many senior Israeli government and Jewish Agency officials stay, is now owned by an Egyptian. On the hotel's seventh floor, Lebanese leader Raymond Edde has his private apart- ment and a 22-room office suite which many describe as a Lebanese government in exile. France's naval pride, the "France," the world's largest liner, was origi- nally bought by Arab businessman Akram Oj- jeh. Another Saudi entrepreneur, Ghaith Pharaon, is the owner of a 15th Century castle, the Chateau de Montfort, which he uses as an occa- sional weekend home. France's Arab population is basically divided into two communities: the North Af- ricans who started off as poor, unskilled workers, and the Middle Eastern in- vestors attracted not only by the pleasant West Euro- pean living standards but also by their desire to closely control their busi- ness interests and financial investments. The massive North Afri- can immigration to France started at the end of the Algerian war. Most of the arrivals at the time, in 1961, were Algerians who had collaborated with the French and feared possible reprisals. France, at the start of a large-scale eco- nomic expansion, was keen for cheap, undemanding and unskilled labor. The North African influx Continued over the years. Today, according to official statistics, there are close to one million Algerians in France, half a million Moroccans and a quarter of a million Tunisians. They still remain the core of the country's low paid labor force — the men who sweep the streets, build the roads, and work at menial tasks in the Renault and' Peugeot automobile plants. By their very penetra- tion into French eco- nomic life, the North Af- ricans have become an important factor both in the consumer and in the distribution process. "Should the North Afri- can merchants or con- sumers decide to boycott a certain product, its producers would be out of business within less than a fortnight," a member of the Paris Chamber of Commerce admitted recently. The North African popu- lation is politically_ highly motivated and well- organized within a mul- titude of associations and unions where political , in- doctrination is the rule. In most Algerian cultural cen- ters there are regular weekly lectures on such de- licate subjects as Jerusalem, the Palestinians and the "Israeli aggression against our Arab brothers." For the time being, most of this population is still too busy to assimilate; it is still fighting too hard for basic economic well-being to find time for political involve- ment in France. In less than a generation, however, many of them will have opted for French national- ity, will vote, will bring pressure to bear and will openly make their voices and political views heard. Their natural leaders are already on the spot. Two generations of Arab-born lawyers, doctors and intel- lectuals who have studied in France and have remained are generally opting for French citizenship. This Arab strength is so obvious that Khashoggi declared recently in Paris: "Whether you like it or not, we are hence- forth bound together." The Arab economic penetration in France is less spectacular than in Britain, where they concentrate on prestige real estate, and more in depth where Arab money flows into industrial projects and long-range economic enterprises. Ojjeh recently explained to the French weekly, Le Point: "French enterprises need money and we ne , technology and grow companies. We are boundi,u link our destinies together." * * * Growth of Arab Language Press The permanency of the Arab implantation in France is symbolized by the new Arab press. Among the 30-plus Arab publications are such renowned news- papers and periodicals as * * * "An Nahar"; "Al Mstakbal," Lebanese Refugees with a self-proclaimed reg- Boost Business ular circulation of 90,000; The arrival in France in "Al Watan Al Arabi"; "Al 1977 of some 20,000 Hawadess"; "Al Riyad", "Al Lebanese refugees gave a Iktissad we Almal Al new impetus to the Arab Arabi," and "Dar Assayad," business community. Most and at least 30 lesser- of these refugees came with known publications. money, with considerable In chic Paris areas, or on business experience and the Cote d'Azur, an affluent with a practical kndwhow of Arab resident leaves his Western economic prac- elegant eight or nine-room tices. They took over hun- apartment, drives his dreds of business companies Bentley or Lincoln Conti- and now work as French nental car to his office when representatives in the Per- he does not yet have a sian Gulf states and Saudi chaufeur and bodyguard, Arabia and operate smaller has lunch at a Lebanese res- but highly active banks in taurant, goes out in the Paris, Lichtenstein and evening to an Arab casino Geneva. and meets friends over French real estate agents drinks later at one of the say that half of the -apart- chic clubs. On the way, he ments they sell in the stops at a newspaper kiosk 10,000-20,000 Francs to pick up some Arab dailies ($2,500-$5,000) per square or weeklies published in meter range are bought by France. Arabs and mainly Lebanese At the same time, a refugees. poor Arab worker, gen- These refugees also re- erally from North Africa, portedly now own 10 per- sweeps the streets or cent of the Dumez indus- weighs fruits and veget- trial empire, 44 percent of ables in a small dingy various airline companies shop, but nonetheless and 39 percent of the Dun- feels part of the same kerque chemical concern. "Moslem and Arab com- Many of them have munity" in spite of his joined older Arab estab- one-room flat with prac- lished firms or business- tically no heating and man such as the groups just one tap of running led- by Akram Ojjeh, a water: multi- Syrian-born Both worlds, the multi- Adnam billionaires and the poor, billionaire, Khashoggi, a Saudi - Ara- are and feel part of the same bian business wizrad, , family and Arab commu- Ghaith Pharaon, the 38- nity. Many French Jews feel year-old Saudi Arabian and fear that in less than P who is an electronic generation from no engineer and a graduate France's Arabs will become - of Harvard, and the new a main force in French polit- owner of the Intra- ical and economic life. Investment Arab Bank and the First Arab Cor- How sacred and beautiful poration (FAC), which several years ago tried to is the feeling of affection in buy 25 percent of the the pure and guileless soul! Lockheed Corporation (a The proud may sneer at it, bid turned down by the the fashionable call it a fa- Washington Administra- ble, the selfish and dissi- tion) and is now eyeing pated affect to despise it, but the holy passion is surely the Dassault Works. Tamraz's FAC is also from heaven, and is made openly bidding for half a evil only by the corruptions dozen giant refineries in of those it was sent to Western Europe, Canada preserve and bless. — Mordaunt and Puerto Rico. •