She was born in Constantine, Algeria in 1955. She is a highly influential figure on the French centre-right, a supporter of the presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy. Yet Nicole Guedj keeps kosher and is passionate about Israel, JTA News reports. (With thanks: Albert)

Guedj’s passions lie beyond French politics. Guedj, who has kosher meals delivered to staff in her office in the Elysee Palace, the presidential complex, is a steadfast defender of Israel. In 1996 she was one of the founders of UPFJ, the Union of Jewish Patrons of France, a group of Jewish heads of French companies who meet to discuss French-Jewish and Israel-related matters, but does not lobby in the American sense of the word. There are no political lobbying groups in France.

Guedj has been criticized by politicians and the French public for her commitments to the Jewish community in France and the security of Israel and her activity in French politics.

Since Israel’s war this summer with Hezbollah, she has been worried about Israel and how it’s viewed.

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