Israel offers France counter-terror help after Nice terror attack

Israel is France's “close partner” in fighting Islamic terrorism, and stands willing to provide any assistance “in our common effort to put an end to the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote in a letter to French President Francois Holland on Friday.

In the letter following the Nice terror attack, Netanyahu expressed his “great sorrow” at the “tragic death of innocent French citizens.”

“The horrific terrorist attack on Bastille Day was a clear but futile attempt to undermine the very foundation of the French Republic,” he wrote. “It is imperative for all civilized nations to come together to defeat the forces of medievalism while defending and maintaining our values and freedoms.”

Netanyahu's letter comes just three days after Jerusalem slammed the French for a meeting French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault reportedly held in Lebanon with Hezbollah representatives.

The European Union makes a distinction between the “political” and “Military” wings of Hezbollah, something that the Arab League does not do, having declared the organization a terrorist group in May.