Sarkozy has Jewish ancestry and is aware of what has happened to Jews living in Christian countries. If Australia became a Christian country I would become a second class citizen since I am a Jew. All countries should treat all citizens equally without regard to their religion and ethnicity. There should be no second class citizens. There should be no Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu countries. Religious belief or lack of it should be absolutely no business of any government. Sarkozy is spot on.

The author seems to have forgotten that Sarkozy is a cheese-eating surrender monkey, and that the frogs traditionally have a stronger commitment to the separation of church and state than we do in Australia. Religious Australians might regard such a comments as 'offensive' and 'politically inept', but I doubt many Frenchies will care the slightest bit about them. And for once, I cannot help but find myself in full agreement with the French.

David F,
With your philosophy, you will never be a second class citizen anywhere and will never incur the wrath of anybody other than by your actions, which seems improbable.
One can be assume that you are an Australian citizen who is Jewish. As such, you are no different to an Australian citizen who has any other religion, of which there are many, or indeed, an atheist, in numbers, probably more. This is a secular country and the separation of church and state is enshrined in out thinking, rightly so.

Acolyte Rizla, you are not alone as most of the world is in full agreement with the French. Not always easy, but this time, yes.
As for Mr. Singer's "Sarko", his only mistake was not having said what he has now said, years ago.

However, the writer of this article, as we have some to expect, is clearly an Israel-oriented citizen with a convenient Australian address, for whatever reason.

If a 'Jewish State' simply meant Jews were in the majority there wouldn't be an issue. And if David Ben-Gurion's intentions were carried out and all had equal citizenship - there would not be any issue either. But increasingly the term 'Jewish State' is taken to infer a state which has a 'Jewish character' *in the sense* that it is not equally a state which aims to represent the relevant minorities.

Before Israel's formation there was talk of a 'national home for the Jews' and a 'Jewish national home'. This need not infer a systematically-discriminatory state. (except in the military where there is no other viable option for now)

It is understandable that in a hostile region and with the Holocaust still in living memory that Israeli Jews wish a monopoly on the apparatus of force in Israel. And it's understandable that they would want a demilitarised future Palestinian state because of the recent history. But aside from this the Israeli state needs to fulfil Ben-Gurion's stated intention of equal citizenship.

And in a context where minorities are marginalised in the party-political process - this should also mean anti-discrimination and affirmative action policies where appropriate; as well as structures for consultation with minorities over policies which especially affect them.

And it must involve a policy of respect - A recognition that Israel IS the home of the various minorities as well. It's very well to have a religious belief that God intended for the Jewish people to settle the land of Israel; But this is not necessarily to infer that they not share that land with in a spirit of recognition and respect with others.

' ... it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.'

There you go again David.

In your zealots propagandising zest you completely ignore the intention of the UN, which was not to create a Jewish State, but to create a homeland for Jewish people.

The states created were Israel and Palestine. Both ahd populations of Jews and non-Jews.

It seems to me the founder of christianity rejected Jewish beliefs and would have great difficulty supporting the Jewish zealots actions in regard to others, if he were alive today.

Sarko has much more in common with Christ and the UN than the discriminatory Jewish community within Israel today.
Why do you ignore the above quite specific qualification?

Dear imajulianutter,

Jesus rejected no Jewish beliefs. His best lines such as 'love thy neighbour' are found in the Jewish scriptures. 'Love thy neighbour' comes from Leviticus. What Jewish beliefs did Jesus reject? Jesus lived and died a Jew.