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Israel exhibits superior tolerance

07 May, 2006

When it comes to human rights and basic freedoms, the Arab and Muslim world could learn a thing or two from Israel.

In Iran, a woman must receive her husband's permission to leave the country or start a business. In Saudi Arabia, a woman may not leave her home unless accompanied by a male relative. In Lebanon, many Palestinian women face tremendous social pressure to stay out of the workplace, and are sometimes even restricted from working by their male relatives.

Kuwait expelled 300,000 Palestinians as collective punishment for the first Gulf War. Pakistan's main human rights organization counted that at least 461 women lost their lives in "honor killings" in 2002 alone.

Former President George H.W. Bush was forbidden to say grace before the Thanksgiving meal on Saudi soil, despite the brave U.S. troops stationed there to prevent Saddam Hussein from over-running the country. In Egypt, persistent persecution against the Copt minority has caused a million of them to emigrate.

In Iran, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned music as corrupt, leading to the banning of music lessons in Iran. People of the minority Baha'i faith cannot vote in Iran and are provided no legal protection under the law. Since the revolution, hundreds of Baha'is have been executed.

And still, a brave few fight back against these injustices. There is one Middle Eastern country that stands out amid this bastion of hate and mockery of humanity. Israel continues to shine as a bright star of hope, democracy, freedom and tolerance.

Israel gives all its citizens – which include people of numerous races, religions and social statuses – equal protection under the law. I recently had a debate with Azmi Bishara, an Arab member of the Israeli Knesset. One point he emphasized was the freedom he has to stand up in the Knesset and publicly criticize Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Abdel Rahman Zuabi, an Arab, held a prized seat on the Israeli Supreme Court. Ali Yahya, also an Arab, has served as an Israeli ambassador.

Israel has had a woman serve as prime minister. Openly gay individuals have served in the government. The Baha'i headquarters is located in Haifa, a northern Israeli coastal city. Arabic is the second officially recognized language of Israel. In 1999, an Arab woman was named Miss Israel.

But I am sure a Jewish Miss Saudi Arabia is just around the corner.

Only in Israel are people of all faiths granted free and unfettered access to pray and attend religious services. Unlike the illegal 19-year Jordanian occupation of the West Bank, during which no fewer than 58 synagogues were desecrated or destroyed, under Israeli rule Arabs, Christians, Jews, Baha'is and people of every other religious conviction have been free to worship as they choose.

Amazingly, these rights have been maintained despite a brutal terrorist war aimed at the destruction of Israel, headed by numerous Palestinian terror organizations.

In this conflict, every person must choose to support one of two undeniable realities.

You can side with the aforementioned corrupt dictatorships and autocracies that impose their beliefs on others, persecuting minorities and denying them basic freedoms.

Or, you can support Israel, which has shown unparalleled respect for minority rights and freedom of expression and association in the Middle East.

I, for one, choose Israel.

Posted by geminimay_no 13:02 | People | Comment(0) | Permalink

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