Even if the audience was not specifically French, it was a public statement, not a private remark. Frankly, is it a antisemitic or anti-Isreali attack to say that, at the very least, PM Sharon should have worded this more carefully ?
And if President Chirac had made a similar swipe at the US, even before a non-US audience, I respectfully believe I'd still be hearing about it, only people would say "outrage" instead of "whine".
Considering that's the the Prime Minister of the "shitty little country" in the view of the French diplomatic corps, and he's referring to a nation where a Jew is advised NOT to look like a Jew, I think he worded it just fine. The French can be offended, doesn't bother me and I doubt Sharon is losing much sleep over it.
And if President Chirac had made a similar swipe at the US, even before a non-US audience, I respectfully believe I'd still be hearing about it, only people would say "outrage" instead of "whine".
Right, we'd ban Chirac from visiting the US. Maybe break off relations.
Actually, if Chirac suggested American's of French heritage emigrate to France due to discrimination against French Americans, most people would fall down laughing.
You overlook a cultural difference.
It’s fair to say many Americans, certainly many on this board, are contemptuous of France. Canada too. But they don’t harass French Americans. Or Canadians.
France has every right to be contemptuous of the “shitty little country”. Based on that contempt, they do harass French Jews, or tolerate harassment.
Most Americans would consider that a form of bigotry.
Is he supposed to refrain from encouraging members of the Jewish diaspora to make aliyah?
That would be a very odd position to take, if you ask me.