PARIS (EJP)---For the first time, a President-in-Office has accepted to address the annual dinner of the French Jewry’s representative body next month.

Traditionally, the dinner of CRIF, the umbrella group of French Jewish secular organisations, sees the French Prime Minister delivering a speech to some 800 invitees, France’s top political, social, religious, business, diplomatic, communal leaders and media representatives.

It has become over the years a major moment in France’s political agenda as the dinner is traditionally dominated by the French government’s policy regarding the Middle East and especially Israel.

"This dinner is a political must as every year it gives an opportunity for the Jewish community to meet with the country’s resources," one Jewish official told EJP.

For several years, former CRIF president Roger Cukierman used the event to express the Jewish community’s concerns, especially with regard to increasing anti-Semitism in the country and its Mideast policy.

This year, however, for the first time, President Nicolas Sarkozy will deliver the speech on February 13 at the Palais d’Ermononville, a seminar and event hall in Paris chic 16th district.

"Richard Prasquier, president of CRIF, who was elected last year, wanted to innovate and invite the new president of France as guest of honour,” Edith Lenczner, CRIF’s spokeswoman, told EJP.

"This is exceptional but the idea is to do it every time a new president is elected," she added.

Sarkozy won the presidential election in May 2007 and Prasquier, a 62-year-old cardiologist, succeeded Roger Cukierman at the head of CRIF one week later.

The French president will be accompanied by Prime Minister François Fillon and cabinet ministers.

Several leaders of the opposition Socialist party, including François Hollande, first secretary of the party, Jack Lang and Bertrand Delanoë, Mayor of Paris, will also attend the dinner.

A friend of Israel

Since he came to power, Sarkozy has revealed himself as a friend of Israel, with a desire to break with the France's traditional pro-Arab Gaullist policy. He is expected to visit Israel in May in the framework of the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state.

The new presiodent has also shown more pro-American views.

Last year, many Jews who traditionally voted Socialist, even in the intellectual circles, choose Sarkozy because they feared the Socialist’s foreign policy, especially towards Israel.

Sarkozy represented for many Jews a break with predecessor Chirac on foreign policy.

In his desire to open his government to politicians from other political circles, the President named Bernard Kouchner, a former Socialist, as Foreign Minister.

The almost 53-year-old Sarkozy is the son of a Hungarian immigrant and a French mother of Greek Jewish origin.

CRIF, which describes itself as the "official and political voice of the Jewish community in France," was founded underground in Lyon in 1943 by several Jewish groups in order to coordinate actions to save Jews from Nazi persecutions.

Its role is "to defend the French Jews, human rights and the existence of the state of Israel."

Around 600,000 Jews live today in France, the largest community in western Europe.