8 | DECEMBER 29 • 2022
PURELY COMMENTARY
continued on page 9
opinion
Israel: One of the Most Progressive
Countries in the World
W
hile so-called
progressives and
biased media in the
United States level a relentless
stream of accusations against
Israel, these critics uniformly
ignore the fact
that Israel is one
of the most lib-
eral, progressive
nations in the
world. If Israel’s
“progressive”
critics really
cared about
social justice, they would be
the country’s most fervent sup-
porters.
Enemies of Israel falsely
accuse Israel of white colonial-
ism, apartheid, ultra-nation-
alism, unfair treatment of its
Arab citizens, LGBT “pink-
washing,
” theocracy and viola-
tions of international law.
In fact, Israel is a mature
democracy with high-function-
ing government and judicial
institutions, plus a long track
record of moral behavior and
the rule of law. It guarantees
expansive civil liberties, equal
rights and economic opportu-
nities to its citizens.
This includes, of course,
Israel’s 2 million Arab citizens
— 20% of the population —
who share all the benefits of
Israeli society.
Israeli Arabs are currently
represented in the Knesset
by two political parties, one
of which is an Islamist party
that was part of the outgoing
government. An Arab Muslim
judge serves on Israel’s Supreme
Court. An Arab Christian also
served as a Supreme Court
justice and was chair of Israel’s
Central Elections Committee.
An Arab Muslim is the head
of Bank Leumi, Israel’s largest
bank. Arabs also make up 30%
of the country’s doctors and
50% of the country’s pharma-
cists.
Thousands of Israeli Arabs
volunteer for service in the
Israel Defense Forces (IDF),
even though military service is
not required of Arab Muslims
or Christians.
So much for the myth of
Israeli apartheid.
Israel is the Middle East’s
most diverse nation and one
of the world’s most diverse
nations. In fact, the over-
whelming majority of its
population are people of color
— including more than half of
Israeli Jews, who mostly hail
from Africa and the Middle
East.
The IDF is also extreme-
ly diverse, boasting service
members from 73 nations and
a Muslim holding the rank of
major.
Israel protects freedom of
religion. Unlike most of its
Middle East neighbors, all reli-
gions — including all branches
of Judaism — are welcome,
and Israel is the only Middle
Eastern country in which
Christians are growing in num-
bers. Israel also hosts the world
headquarters of the Bahai faith.
Israel believes in and practic-
es full social equality. Women
enjoy complete freedom, serve
in all levels of government and
business, and even participate
in the military draft. The IDF
has six female brigadier gener-
als and a female fighter pilot.
Abortion is legal in Israel.
There are no state restrictions
on racial or religious intermar-
riage. Same-sex marriages are
recognized by the legal system.
This was the case nine years
before same-sex marriage was
legalized in the U.S. In addi-
tion, while the abusive practice
of “conversion therapy” for
members of the LGBT com-
munity is still legal in some
parts of the U.S., it is banned in
Israel.
While homosexuality and
sexual diversity are either
outlawed or severely censured
in almost all Middle Eastern
countries, Israel hosts some of
the largest and liveliest celebra-
tions of LGBT life in the world.
Tel Aviv is rightfully dubbed
the Gay Capital of the Middle
East.
Israel even grants asylum to
members of the LGBT commu-
nity living in areas under the
jurisdiction of the Palestinian
Authority, where there is harsh,
often violent punishment of
sexual minorities, and no legis-
lation to protect their rights.
Israel is an exemplary citizen
in the community of nations.
In the face of natural disas-
ters worldwide — hurricanes,
earthquakes, tsunamis — the
Jewish state’s response with
medical help and food supplies
is unparalleled. Tiny Israel is
usually one of the first coun-
tries to send aid.
The IDF observes some of
the strictest rules of engage-
ment in the world in order to
protect civilians in war zones.
Such policies often put IDF
troops at risk by sending them
on the ground into dangerous
areas rather than employing
tactics like carpet bombing,
which could lead to the deaths
of many innocents.
Alleged violations of the
IDF’s rules of engagement by
soldiers — such as the death of
journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
— are seriously investigated
and severely punished when
proven, which Akleh’s was not.
Finally, Israel is far from a
colonial settler state. It was
founded by indigenous Jews
returning to their homeland in
opposition to colonial rule, and
its founding was legitimized
under international law by the
United Nations.
Israel also strictly adheres
to the letter of the interna-
tional protocols and treaties to
which it is a party. For exam-
ple, despite constant lies that
James
Sinkinson
JNS.org