The when-in-Rome argument is a sound one.
If one were to go into a Haredi neighbourhood of Jerusalem - or for tea at Buckingham Palace - or Holy Communion with the Pope - or to visit Meccah, one would choose the appropriate attire.
However, once representatives of a ruling party are sending minions around the beaches of Dubai / Gaza looking for secular people in a traditionally low-key secular part of the city/town/country in order to enforce dress and behavioural codes, what we have then is a Taliban strategy which is incompatible with democracy, fairplay and respect. It becomes a religious police state.
Israel is not, and will not be this kind of place. I hope for the majority of Arabs that their nations will avoid this too. There must be places for both religious and secular. |
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