Sheep in wolf's clothing

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FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni visited the Holy Land to honour Israel's 60th anniversary. They even spent a few hours in the occupied territories, visiting Bethlehem to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The visit was meant to cement warmer ties between France and Israel.

The Sarkozys were given the red-carpet treatment at the airport by President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, an army band and honour guard before travelling to Jerusalem for a reception at Peres's official residence followed by dinner with Olmert.

Sarkozy is the "most pro-Israel" French president since the 1950s, the Jerusalem Post reported on its front page on Sunday. "I have never hid it, I have always been a friend of Israel," Sarkozy effused.

When the time came for his speech in the Knesset, however, Sarkozy had a mixed message for the Israelis. First the usual patter: "France is Israel's friend and will always stand by her side when her security or existence are threatened. Those who scandalously call for the destruction of Israel will always, always, find France blocking their path. France will always stand by Israel's side. I ask you to trust us because we want to help you. France is ready to provide its guarantee, ready to mobilise its diplomatic service, its resources, its soldiers. You can trust France."

But he surprised everyone, as he so loves to do, by daring to lecture his hosts on their naughty behaviour: "There cannot be peace without an immediate and complete halt to settlement. There cannot be peace without recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of two states and the guarantee of free access to the holy places for all religions." Will wonders never cease?