The Secular Party of Australia, while recognising the right of a nation to defend itself from attacks and from having its citizens kidnapped, believes that in the recent hostilities, the Israeli response was quite disproportionate. An endless escalation of the cycle of violence offers no prospect of peace.

As has been stated by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the actions of both Israel and Hizbollah, in targeting civilians, constitute violations of international law. As such these actions must be condemned. We seek that the rule of law be upheld, and that justice should be sought in respect of these apparent crimes.

The Secular Party stands for the protection of human rights against such violations. We stand for the promotion of secular solutions to the problems of human conflict, especially those conflicts that have a religious component. In this regard, we do not acknowledge as valid any claims made by Israel on the basis of a presumed endorsement of a parochial God; nor do we acknowledge as valid claims of religious endorsement made by the opponents of Israel. Human beings have human rights, religions do not.

The Secular Party recognises that a solution to the problems of the Middle East will only be found when all sides agree that all citizens must have equal rights, regardless of religion or ethnicity. Assertions of religious or ethnic dominance should have no part in the affairs or policies of any State. Only secularism can provide the path to peace, and only secular solutions can in fact provide a guarantee of religious freedom.

John August
NSW Secretary