IDF Grants Gay Palestinian Asylum
Israel’s getting wise in its old age!
The Middle Eastern nation, which officially turns 60 this year, made a Palestinian gay’s dreams come true this week by granting him asylum, thus protecting him from anti-gay attacks in his homeland.
The man had applied years ago for an Israeli visa in order to live with his Israeli lover of eight years in Tel Aviv.Realizing that acquiring such a visa via normal channels could take many more years, the Palestinian man turned to an Israeli Defense Force commander responsible for civil administration in the area and reported repeated threats to his life ever since his family discovered he was homosexual and in a relationship with an Israeli Jew.
The move’s unheard of in Israel and, we hope, sets a precedent. Although, we’re not holding out breath.
Israel is really good for gay rights, it seems, especially considering it’s a nation founded purely for religious reasons and is in the Middle East.
It seems the broader issue isn’t just Israel, but why the international community refuses to admit that being gay can be a cause for oppression in many areas in the world. Seriously, if bodily harm and threat of death doesn’t count as a human right abuse, then what exactly is the human rights community there to address. This should go beyond gay/straight.
Isn’t it interesting that a country at least inspired by the Mosaic convenant is more tolerant of homosexuals than our own bible-thumpers? Our windbags cite Leviticus’ “abomination” passage more than any rabbi I’ve heard.
Kevin: Orthodox Jewish rabbis in Israel have a lot of-too much – influence.But it’s basically a secular liberal democracy. Certainly not a theocracy like Iran or Saudi Arabia.
Thanks, HKG, for adding that post. True enough…yet my central point was that here, in the Land of the Free, our asshats preachers have more influence than there.
Palestinian marginalization has made them more reactionary. They used to be fairly liberal and democratic and educated before their society was turned on its head.
“Palestinian marginalization has made them more reactionary. They used to be fairly liberal and democratic and educated before their society was turned on its head.”
Oh, man, I would LOVE to see some documentation for THAT statement. What a lulu!!