Op-ed: If You Take Down Israel, What Else Goes With It?(The Advocate)

[King_David]

Op-ed: If You Take Down Israel, What Else Goes With It?

By Lillian Faderman, op-ed contributor

Our community should celebrate Israel — a country whose laws are more favorable to LGBT people than those of the United States — and stop sympathizing with its opponents.
By Lillian Faderman, op-ed contributor

Americans have every reason to envy Israel's enlightened policies toward its LGBT citizens. So it puzzles me deeply when I hear of LGBT groups lending their sympathy to opponents of Israel.

The rights we have been fighting for and still have not fully achieved in the United States, LGBT Israelis already enjoy. I came out in the middle of the last century and witnessed firsthand the persecution and oppression of LGBT people. It was because of those early experiences that I devoted the last 40 years of my life to writing books and articles about our community’s history and progress.

In America, as late as 2003 there were still 14 states that punished gay men under sodomy laws. Israel abolished all sodomy laws in 1988. In America, we’ve been fighting for decades for a law that would end employment discrimination against LGBT people. A few states have passed such laws, but the federal government has not. Israel passed a law in 1992 that protects any citizen (Jewish, Christian, or Arab) from employment discrimination for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

In America at mid-century, lesbians and gays in the military had to be absolutely closeted; they were witch-hunted and given dishonorable discharges if found out. The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that was passed during the Clinton administration was actually considered “progressive” — a big improvement over the old policy — because lesbians and gays were to be booted out of the military only if they drew attention to their homosexuality. Finally now, 11 years into the 21st century, America is getting around to permitting lesbians and gays to serve openly in the military. Our Israeli brothers and sisters have been able to serve openly since 1993, and since 1997 a same-sex partner is recognized by the Israeli Defense Department as a member of the soldier’s family.

ETA :Authors Name
http://www.advocate.com/Politics/Commentary/Op-ed__If_You_Take_Down_Israel,_What_Else_Goes_With_It_/

[Demeter]

1. A lot of the crazy in the world

[midnight]

2. And they have better health care than America...

[BackToThe60s]

3. Selfdelete

I renounce my previous commentary and beg Israel's forgiveness.

[William769]

4. Op-ed Rebuttal: The Last Word in Debate Series on Israel

Sherry Wolf’s piece is full of the usual misinformation about Israel.

Wolf claims that only Jewish LGBT people in Israel enjoy progressive reforms. Simply not true. All citizens—whether Jewish, Christian, or Muslim—enjoy LGBT rights in Israel, as I point out in my op-ed piece. LGBT Arabs live openly in Israel, as they could nowhere else in the Middle East. Aswat, a lesbian Arab group was founded in 2003: Guess where in the Middle East? Haifa. Jerusalem Open House, which provides a home to LGBT organizations and is open to all LGBT people — Jews, Christians, and Muslims — started Alqaws in 2007, a group that reaches out specifically to LGBT Arab Israelis.

Wolf describes Israeli policies as “racist” and “apartheid.” In fact, Arab citizens of Israel have equal rights under the law. They can worship as they want. They can vote for whomever they want.As citizens of Israel, they are entitled to a virtually-free education, paid for by the state — including university education in some of the best universities in the world. Arabs are in the Knesset (the Israeli parliament); there have been and are Arab Israeli political ministers and members of the Israeli Supreme Court. I challenge Wolf to tell me what apartheid country could say that, or what other Middle Eastern country treats its minority citizens as well.

Wolf says that Israel has “brazenly occupied Palestinian land for decades.” Space makes a proper history lesson impossible — but to be brief: For 400 years, the area of “Palestine” was ruled by the Turkish Ottoman Empire — not “Palestinians.”

http://www.advocate.com/Politics/Commentary/Op-ed_Rebuttal__The_Last_Word_in_Debate_Series_on_Israel/

[King_David]

5. Sherry Wolf wants to take Israel back to medieval times AKA Hamas' world

She want's to take the Gay's of Israel from all they have gained and all their equal rights to a time (present time in Gaza ,West Bank and all of the Arab world) where Gays are hanged and stoned and killed just because they were born with a certain sexual orietation.

Why on earth would Gays want this?

Who the FUCK does she think she is?

[azurnoir]

6. Define what is meant by the phrase "Take Down Israel" exactly what does that entail?

the article has lots of sound bytes like 'those who oppose Israel' but exactly what is being opposed? Is it Israels existence as a democratic nation? Does this apply to those who oppose anything Israel does? I am mystified here

[King_David]

7. None of those things require definitions

It is self evident to anyone reading the article.

;)

[azurnoir]

8. Really so the use of opposed or take down is open ended? I did read the article

The article seemed an exercise in how superior Israels GLBT rights laws are to those in Arab controlled territories and that any anyone who 'opposed' Israel by association also opposed GLBT rights which is BS

also does Israel protect the tights of GLBT Palestinians living in Israeli controlled area C of the West Bank? if yes please post an example?

[King_David]

9. No example necessary , If Israel controls it ,they are protected nt

[azurnoir]

10. thankls for the input I'm sure Israel is busily protecting Palestinians living in Area C of the WB

it has such a stellar record of doing so

[King_David]

11. Gay Rights in Palestine is an Oxymoron.

Not this atrocious state of affairs that the world allows to continue in The West Bank or Gaza.

And is envisioned in the independent State of Palestine they want to declared in September.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_Palestinian_territories

And for those advocating a one state solution or an end to Israel as we know it,the answer is HELL NO !!

[azurnoir]

12. The west Bank follows Jordanian law doesn't i?

not Gaza at present though, but do you believe that prior to being allowed their own country the Palestinians must follow Western countries or those that have GLBT laws that are considered liberal or equal Israel's they should remain under occupation? Because "Israel as we know it" is occupying the West Bank, but thanks oh so much for your input here

[King_David]

13. Yes prior to Independence and recognition ANY COUNTRY

Should Guarantee fundamental Human rights including Gay rights for the privilege of recognition.

The USA and other western countries SHOULD NOT recognize Palestine at all , if they continue to deny Gay rights.

ABSOLUTELY !

YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT ?

[azurnoir]

14. I have a problem with an entire people being denied the Human Right

like self determination under the pretext that they do not have laws guaranteeing full GLBT rights

yes I do have a problem with that, which is not the same as having a problem with GLBT

Tell us do you this goes any country?

[King_David]

15. Well if you have a problem with that,

G'DAY .

LGBT rights are not negotiable.

I will not even continue this because on a progressive board posts like that should be viewed as disgusting.

[azurnoir]

16. you did not answer the question does that go for any country that does not have full GLBT rights ?

your answer is IMO rather self righteous, you seem to consider all Human Rights 'negotiable' on the pretext of GLBT rights.
Perhaps you should be reminded that in Israel being Gay was illegal until 1988, does that mean Israel should not have existed prior to that?

[King_David]

17. In 2011 Nobody should accept being Gay as illegal

And no country should be recognized with that disgusting , repugnant law on their books.


PERIOD !!

[azurnoir]

18. so in other words if one group suffers all will suffer is that your stance ?

the rights of an entire population man women and child straight or gay should be held hostage to one specific part of the population having full rights? and that is in your mind a liberal stance? and oh BTW the West Bank follows the Jordanian code which made homosexuality legal in 1951 fully 36 years prior to Israel and the PA has also signed the declaration of Human Rights and once Palestine is recognized as a legal sovereign state no longer under military and colonial occupation it should be expected to up hold that signing

also you dodged my question about Israel it seems no such requirement was made of the what demands to be called 'Jewish State' a double standard if ever there was

we could if you like take a close look at Israel's history of granting Gay rights and the context of what was going on politically between Israel and Palestine 1988, 1993, and 1994 were landmark tears in both respects

[King_David]

20. Rubbish

'According to the International Lesbian and Gay Association, Palestinian Authority law prohibits sexual relations between two men.<1>'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_Palestinian_territories

ANY COUNTRY that criminalize a person for being born Gay SHOULD NOT BE RECOGNIZED !

That is the Liberal,Progressive,Democrat, Right or Left wing stance of any Western Democracy.


GAY RIGHT TO LIFE OUTSIDE OF A PRISON IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. (That is my stance)

PERIOD !!

Your post is medieval !!!!!

[shaayecanaan]

23. Unless, of course, it was before 1988...

in which case, countries should be recognised even if they have anti-gay laws on their books.

Countries can still be recognised even if they don't allow gay marriage, unless and until Israel decides to recognise this, in which case those countries shouldnt be recognised any more.

And any country that outlaws civil marriage between gays or non-gays is okay, for the time being, given that Israel doesnt allow civil marriage either. Of course, the moment that they do, I will immediately insist that this, also, is a fundamental prerequisite to being considered a legitimate and sovereign state. Unless the Palestinians also allow civil marriage, in which case I don't really give a toss one way or the other.

Basically, anything that allows me to frame any given issue to beat up on the Palestinians and spare Israel any criticism is what I am aiming for. Is that so very bad?

[King_David]

24. I am not talking about Gay Marriage

I am talking about being born a Criminal with a very harsh sentence in Palestine.

In Gaza this may even be a death sentence , just for being born Gay.

Do we want to recognize such a State ?

Hell No !

[shaayecanaan]

26. I am talking about gay marriage...

and I am also talking about water quality. Israel has terrible waterways, the worst in the OECD. Even falling into a river or creek accidentally can result in fatal poisoning. No fish can survive, in fact the water is barely fit for insects.

Do we want to recognise such a State?

Hell No!

[King_David]

29. Well I guess that falling into a creek

or throwing Gays into jail (for no crime) or hanging them is the same thing to some people.

:eyes:

[azurnoir]

27. Using Gay rights as an excuse to allow Israel to maintain it's occupation

oppression, and colonization of the Palestinian people is IMO a contemptible tactic, and IMO dishonors the Gay Rights movement

"GAY RIGHT TO LIFE OUTSIDE OF A PRISON IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. (That is my stance)"

your stance seems that all life should be in 'prison' if Gays are not allowed full rights

[King_David]

28. You made your views ample clear on this subject.

And maybe it is not so important to you, but do not lecture me on dishonor to the Gay Rights Movement with such indifference
to how the Arab,Iranian and most of the Muslim world criminalize this minority group just because they were born with a certain
sexual orientation.

It has nothing to do with any occupation.

If a Gaza or the West Bank or Palestinian State made all Palestinians born with Black skin sentenced to prison or worse (hanging,stoning or death)
you can be sure there would be no recognition of such evil in the form of recognizing it as an independent state.

Same thing.

The occupation is irrelevant to this discussion.

Criminalizing ,Jailing ,State Sanctioned murder of a Minority Group should not be rewarded.



PERIOD !!

[azurnoir]

32. First let's get this clear being Gay is not illegal in the West Bank

in Gaza being male and Gay is illegal being female and Gay is not illegal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_by_country_or_territory#Western_Asia

This page was last modified on 4 August 2011 at 17:43.

it is written in form of a table or I would post it

so your scenario comparison of Blacks and Gays in this situation is invalid but your insistence on collective punishment is noted

Most reasonable people including Palestinian Gay Rights organization alQaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society, would rather work for change in their society from the perspective of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, I guess their views don't much matter to some

alQaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society.

http://www.alqaws.org/q/

all in all this is a fascinating study in what I have learned is an aspect of what is called called 'Pink Washing" on this case using Israel's more liberal GLBT laws as a means of delegitimizing Palestinian statehood

more on this here

Haneen Maikey, based in Jerusalem, is Al Qaws’ director.
I.

Active within the Bay Area LGBT community, I have personally witnessed attempted pinkwashes. In one particular instance, a protest erupted after the California Supreme Court issued its ruling that Proposition 8 (the initiative defining marriage as between one man and one woman) was constitutional despite its prior decision legalizing same-sex unions. Within hours thousands of people took to the streets in protest. After a procession of speakers demanding equal rights for gay and lesbian couples, the rally closed with a rabbi who took the microphone in order to emphasize Israel’s commitment to gay rights and opposition to Prop 8, and to ask us to support the Jewish State because of it. A few activists including myself were disgusted and immediately left. However the majority stayed, and later that year I found myself hearing the same sentiments repeated by prominent LGBT figures.

Queer Palestinians, like Afghan and Iraqi women, have consistently found their discourse co-opted by neo-conservative hawks and progressives alike in order to justify war and occupation under the assumption that such actions will ‘liberate’ the oppressed. It is this cynical manipulation that the forum’s speakers work to disparage. Claiming their own voices and movement, queer Palestinian activists are clamoring to be heard and wish for their American brothers and sisters to spread their message. So what is it they have to say?

The clearest message resounding from all three speakers was that if one actually cares about LGBT rights within Palestine, one should be working to end the occupation. That Israel has cultivated a vibrant and open gay enclave is laudable, yet such accomplishments do not give the ‘Jewish State’ a free pass to violate human rights, including the rights of the gay Palestinians they allegedly care for. As Haneen dryly explained, “It doesn’t matter what the sexual orientation of the Soldier at a checkpoint is, whether he can serve openly or not. What matters is that he’s there at all.” Sami echoed the same sentiment, jibing that “the apartheid wall was not created to keep Palestinian homophobes out of Gay Israel, and there is no magic door for gay Palestinians to pass through.”

When pressed by an audience member as to which situation they would prefer, a perfectly egalitarian, queer-friendly society still under occupation or a free Palestine that still suffers from sexism, patriarchy and homophobia, the three became visibly angry. Abeer looked to the audience and asked, “Please raise your hand if you’d like to live one day under occupation,” before saying that occupied people cannot adequately address civil rights issues as they struggle for their very means of survival. Sami went on to contend that freedom transforms the mind, giving people the best opportunity to examine their previously held attitudes. Drawing on recent events in Egypt, he related that while sexual harassment is rampant within the country, in Tahrir square women remarked an utter absence of abuse during the mass protests. At the same time, if one does not wish to see the correlation between the unacceptably slow pace of social change and the increasing weight of the occupation, one cannot honestly contend that Israel's actions do anything to help the plight of Palestinian women/LGBT individials.

http://mondoweiss.net/2011/02/palestinian-queer-activists-challenge-the-pinkwashing-of-the-israeli-occupation.html

The views I have expressed are in line it would seem of those odf a number of Palestinian Gays

[King_David]

35. 'The views I have expressed are in line it would seem of those odf a number of Palestinian Gays '.

Ha Ha Ha.

Where does one find these Palestinian Gays to interview in person?

We can always check out your views at the local Ramallah Gay bar.

Oh wait ...


Ha ha ha ha

---------------------------------------------------------------


Palestinian gays seek safety in Israel

By: DAN BARON Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Published: Thursday, January 15, 2004 4:59 PM EST
Belying its name, Electricity Park is shrouded in darkness, an ideal spot for curb-crawlers keen to avoid attention as they prowl for male prostitutes at night.

The anonymity these streets offer serves as a refuge for the young men who ply their trade in this dismal corner of Tel Aviv. Many of them have far more to fear than the police or the occasional abusive client.

Tricked out in drag or the tight, modish attire of Western urban youth, dozens of gay Palestinian runaways eke out a dangerous living on Israel's streets. For these gay men, life in the seedy parts of central Israel is far better than the virtual death sentences they fled in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Sani - not his real name - grew up outside Gaza City, in a refugee camp whose clan networks and congestion made privacy practically impossible. He said he realized he was homosexual at age 16, in an encounter with another youth.

Sani's secret was safe from his father, a local sheik, but eventually it leaked out to the Palestinian Authority police.
"They brought me in, held me for hours," he told JTA. "During one round of questioning, they made me strip and sit on a Coke bottle. It hurt. And all the time I was more worried my family would learn why."

Torture by Palestinian Authority security services or vigilante attacks by relatives is a fate suffered by countless gays in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where sodomy carries a jail term of three to 10 years.

Islam prescribes capital punishment for homosexual activity.

Those who survive torture and attacks either fade into meek self-abnegation or, like Sani, break away.

Sani's freedom came at a price: He had to report other Palestinian gays to the police. But as soon as he got out of the Gaza lock-up, Sani got out of Gaza for good, posing as a day laborer to escape to the safety of Israel proper, where he joined an estimated 300 fellow gay runaways.

http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2004/01/15/news/israel/nseek0116.txt

[azurnoir]

36. Sami Shamali and Haneen Maikey are Palestinian Gays but reposting a typo eh

a sign of a winning argument for sure' oh and the Cleveland Jewish News yepper I'm sure they 'all up on' what the Gay Palestinian community feels

[azurnoir]

33. delete accidental double post n/t

[azurnoir]

30. I did some research on the the organization you repeatedly cite International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual

interesting organization seems they lost their lost their UN creds over being unable to prove that they've severed their association with NAMBLA, albeit they blame teh Arabs of course

In the summer of 1993 the ILGA gained consultative status on the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as a Non-Governmental-Organization, joining 3,000 organisations throughout the world. However, that status was suspended in 1994 after a campaign led by Jesse Helms focussing on NAMBLA's membership of ILGA.

Following this ILGA, by a vote of 214-30 expelled North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) and two other groups (Vereniging MARTIJN and Project Truth) in early 1994 because they were judged to be "groups whose predominant aim is to support or promote pedophilia." In October 1994, the executive committee of ILGA suspended the membership of VSG (Association for Sexual Equality), a gay group in Munich, Germany, due to its vocal solidarity with NAMBLA and its refusal to purge pedophile members. Its membership was suspended until the next Annual Conference of ILGA in June 1995 when the matter could be dealt with in accordance to ILGA's constitution, namely, expulsion. VSG left ILGA in April 1995 and in 1998 dissolved itself.

ILGA applied to have its consultative status reinstated in 2000,<8> but on 30 April 2002 the United Nations' Economic & Social Council voted 29-17 not to grant this application, <9> "based on concerns raised about its member organizations or subsidiaries that promoted or condoned paedophilia". <10>

One of the issues of concern was whether it was possible to verify that links with NAMBLA had effectively been severed due to ILGA not publishing its organisation membership list given fears for the safety of members living in countries where homosexuality is still criminalised.

On 3 May 2003, ECOSOC voted to again decline consultative status to ILGA. ILGA submitted another application, along with another LGBT rights organisation but it was rejected on 23 January 2006 at the Committee of NGOs. <11> ILGA keeps the view that the summary dismissal of LGBT rights organisations' applications was influenced by Egypt and OIC. <12>

This page was last modified on 30 July 2011 at 21:09.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Lesbian_and_Gay_Association

'strangely' you chose not to cite this organization

alQaws for Sexual & Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society

http://www.alqaws.org/q/


from the alqaws an interview with Haneen Maikey a Palestinian Lesbian activist

What do you think, you as a queer group can contribute specifically to the Palestinian liberation movement?

HM: I think that the most marginalized have most to gain from social change and will be the most committed to change. You can choose to talk about homosexuality specifically and to work for gay rights – but you can also try to talk about sexuality in general and about other forms of marginalized sexualities, to talk about Human Rights and base yourselves on all the forms of oppression you experience. That is what we try to do, we want to include other categories than just homosexuals. For example, we want to also include people that feel oppressed because of their gender or because they don’t want to get married. As a small group, we have to build coalitions to make change in society and that is what we are trying to do. We now exist ten years and the first seven years we focused on building our own capacities, discussing our vision. We are aware that different groups have tried to manipulate the issue of queers in Palestine. Some Palestinian groups said we were ’westernized’ for example. Or there is the traditional liberal claim that sexuality is not political but only affects people in their private life. The Israeli government uses the issue of gay rights, trying to paint itself as a kind of gay haven in the Middle east and accusing Palestinian society of being inherently homophobic. Our experience gives us an unique perspective. When I was touring the United States, Zionists didn’t engage with us. We would have liked to discuss but they just can’t deal with Palestinian, political queers. Supposedly we are either killed by the Palestinian Authority or we don’t exist at all.

One our main political campaigns is to counter what is called ’pinkwashing’, a part of a broader campaign of the Israeli government: the cynical use of the relative progressive gay rights in Israel to divert international attention away from their Human Rights violations and occupation. I often hear the objection; ’so what if Israel wants to promote its gay-rights policies?’ But its not about gay rights, Israel commits Human Rights violations and occupies another people and then abuses my difficulties and my name by saying my society is backward and homophobic. My struggle is dismissed and my people are demonized. This has a direct impact on our image internationally but more important is its impact on Palestinian gay youth who internalize these ideas and dream about running away to Israel, the supposed bastion of gay rights. But the law is very clear: Palestinians can not get refugee status in Israel, Israel will not help or protect Palestinian gays. The Israeli campaign of ’pinkwashing’ is another reason we have to take a political stand.

http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article2211

[King_David]

31. To Be Gay In Gaza Right Now

His name, Malak, means Angel in Arabic. Of course, that’s not his real name. And we can’t publish his picture. Putting either or both on the Internet would get him killed. He is that rare, but increasingly aware, phenomenon in Muslim-dominated Palestine: A Gay man. And this is an exclusive first interview with a Gay Palestinian person caught in the deadly conflict that erupted 19 days ago when Israel retaliated for Hamas rocket attacks. Our correspondence with Malak, which began during the second week of the current Israeli Gaza incursion, was tinged with the urgency and the forced calm of a young man facing uncertainty on so many fronts but wanting to get the word out abut what it’s really like to be Gay and a target of scorn from within and without his country.

“Yes,” he said, in answer to a question, “I am “under the radar” as far as being Gay, or else I would be killed. It’s extremely hard to find even a Bisexual person in Gaza. It’s like looking for an oasis in Antarctica.I knew a lesbian couple but they left Gaza two years ago. Since then I lost contact with them.” He already knows that two of his male Gay friends have been killed in Gaza, as well as fourteen more family friends and acquaintances. He is very upset. He is worried. He does try to mask his concerns with humor, but the gravity of the situation in Gaza City has become so dire, the deep fears and frustrations show in his letters.

Malak does have a boyfriend, and they live right in the center of Gaza City. Their days and nights are filled with the sounds of exploding bombs, the crys of wounded people and the wailing of the bereaved who have lost loved ones in this conflict. Although Malak has Gay Israeli friends, he says, ”I keep them discreet and hidden as people won’t understand that they are pure friends, or maybe lovers; they will say that I’m a traitor. I hate these kind of understandings my people have.”


http://ttthomas.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/to-be-gay-in-gaza-right-now/

[azurnoir]

34. ah a tad closer to the truth up until now however the claim has been all Palestinians

not just Gaza and what you site is one more of many reasons Hamas must go

[shaayecanaan]

19. But prior to 1988, there was no problem?

(with anti-gay laws being in force in Israel). That is rather convenient, I must say.

"If a man lie with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. Verily, they are both to be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13)

What a disgusting passage. I don't think any recognition ought to be afforded to Judaism as long as this horrible law remains on its books.

[King_David]

21. Your post is completely irrelevant

Not to mention distasteful.

(I think that passage is disgusting too)

Israel has afforded Gay people full rights .

[Crunchy Frog]

38. Really? Gay marriage is allowed in Israel?

[King_David]

39. Gay Marriage is recognised in Israel

Yep ;)

[Crunchy Frog]

40. Not recognized. Allowed.

Yep. ;)

[King_David]

42. Recognized and registered

;)

[Crunchy Frog]

43. If gay marriage is not allowed, then you can't say that gays have full rights.

Your smug and sanctimonious smiley notwithstanding.

[oberliner]

22. Gay and lesbian IDF soldiers complain of widespread sexual harassment

More than 40 percent of gay and lesbian soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces were sexually harassed during their time in the military, according to a recent study by the Israel Gay Youth organization. The report is based on a sampling of 364 gay and lesbian soldiers currently serving in the IDF or who were discharged over the past year.

Of the sample, 40 percent reported verbal abuse and 4 percent reported physical abuse as well.

According to 45 percent of respondents, homophobic remarks are very frequent or frequent in the units in which they serve or served. Soldiers serving in combat units reported such remarks more frequently - 59 percent said they had heard them.

The study showed that although 63 percent of the sample had come out to their friends in civilian life, only 32 percent had revealed their sexual orientation to their fellow soldiers or to their direct commander.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/gay-and-lesbian-idf-soldiers-complain-of-widespread-sexual-harassment-1.378810

Still got a ways to go on this issue.

There, here (US), and just about everywhere in the "enlightened" West.

[King_David]

25. I am not talking about harassment

I am talking about simple Criminalization.

[Crunchy Frog]

37. And who is considered to be an "opponent" of Israel?

Is it anyone who is in favor of rights for Palestinians? Is it anyone who is critical of Israeli policies? I don't believe that I have seen any posters on this board whom I would consider "opponents" of Israel (at least none who haven't been tombstoned). Who exactly is this article referring to?

[shira]

41. Antizionists for a one state nightmare scenario. n/t