From an article by Akiva Eldar in Haaretz , an Israeli newspaper: Israel dismally fails the requirements of a tolerant pluralistic society, according to a new report from the U.S. State Department.
Despite boasting religious freedom and protection of all holy sites, Israel falls short in tolerance toward minorities, equal treatment of ethnic groups, openness toward various streams within society, and respect for holy and other sites.
The comprehensive report, written by the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, says Israel discriminates against groups including Muslims, Jehova's Witnesses, Reform Jews, Christians, women and Bedouin.
The report says that the 1967 law on the protection of holy places refers to all religious groups in the country, including in Jerusalem, but "the government implements regulations only for Jewish sites. Non-Jewish holy sites do not enjoy legal protection under it because the government does not recognize them as official holy sites."
At the end of 2008, for example, all of the 137 officially recognized holy sites were Jewish. Moreover, Israel issued regulations for the identification, preservation and guarding of Jewish sites only. Many Christian and Muslim sites are said to be neglected, inaccessible or at risk of exploitation by real estate entrepreneurs and local authorities.
The report makes it clear that practices that have become routine in Israel are considered unacceptable in enlightened countries and should be corrected.
Among other examples, the report notes that more than 300,000 immigrants who are not considered Jewish under rabbinical law are not allowed to marry and divorce in Israel or be buried in Jewish cemeteries.
Who heads up the Department that issued this report - one that plays into the anti-Israel narrative promoted by Israel's adversaries (including so-called Human Rights Groups)?
Michael Posner, who was sworn into office September 23, 2009, is a brand-new appointee by this administration. Where did he come from? The netherworld of Soros-land (as in George Soros, the anti-American, anti-free enterprise, anti-Israel, anti-GOP; o-drug; pro-gun control billionaire sugar daddy of the Democratic Party and a man who I warned long ago would have a lot of power if Barack Obama became President,given his close and early ties to the president). Prior to joining State Department, Mr. Posner was the Executive Director and then President of Human Rights First. As its Executive Director he helped the organization earn a reputation for leadership in the areas of refugee protection, advancing a rights-based approach to national security, challenging crimes against humanity, and combating discrimination. He has been a frequent public commentator on these and other issues, and has testified dozens of times before the U.S. Congress. In January 2006, Mr. Posner stepped down as Executive Director to become the President of Human Rights First, a position he held until his appointment as Assistant Secretary.
George Soros funds this group and paid Posner's salary for years. Now he heads a State Department office that just issued a scathing report on Israel that could have come from the Arab League (that may be some hyperbole - the League would not couch its denunciation in diplomat-ese).
How many other Soros people (the anti-Israel Van Jones was among them) now have come to be placed in positions of influence and power in Washington? Anyone with a Center for American Progress pedigree or from the International Crisis Group (Samantha Power) should be flagged, but there are more.And of course, Barack Obama himself.
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