Street to be named after Chirac in Ramallah

Next step: a rue Arafat in Paris? Chirac has long been a Palestinians' hero anyway.

At a farewell meeting Tuesday with outgoing French leader Jacques Chirac, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the West Bank city of Ramallah would name a street after him.

Chirac, who will leave office after the French presidential election's final round May 6, was also given an open invitation to visit the Palestinian territories, Abbas said.

"The objective of this visit was to meet President Chirac and to thank this great man for all he has done for the Palestinian people," Abbas told reporters after talks at the Elysee Palace.

Abbas said he told Chirac that Ramallah's mayor had decided "to name of the one most important streets" in the city after Chirac. Chirac's spokesman said the French leader appreciated that gesture of friendship.

Chirac has close ties with the Palestinians and won fans across the Muslim world when he opposed the U.S.-led Iraq invasion.

The mayor of Ramallah, Janette Khoury [a 63 year-old Christian elected thanks to Hamas' votes], has decided to rename an 'important' street in the city after outgoing French President Jacques Chirac, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday in Paris.

A little reminder:

Chirac being nice to his Israeli security guards, defending, again, the Palestinians...