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Last update - 07:24 06/11/2009
U.S. State Department: Israel is not a tolerant society
By Akiva Eldar
Tags: State Department, Israel News 

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.
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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.

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      1.   Oh Boy! 07:39  |  C O 06/11/09
      2.   Well, duh 07:43  |  M.E. 06/11/09
      3.   It took this long for the State Department to find this out? 08:09  |  Jerrold Cohen 06/11/09
      4.   This report would be laughable if it were not serious 08:20  |  Nechama 06/11/09
      5.   Obama`s Administration at work to demonize Israel 08:49  |  Dudi 06/11/09
      6.   Who? 08:59  |  blash 06/11/09
      7.   Strong on rhetoric, weak on practice 09:11  |  Dafna 06/11/09
      8.   What an incredible slap in the face for the "bigots"...... 09:22  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/11/09
      9.   Gasp. This is like the peacetime version of Goldstone 09:40  |  Michael 06/11/09
      10.   Confirmation 09:44  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/11/09
      11.   Jewisch state.... 09:50  |  Peer 06/11/09
      12.   Why Israel can`t be Jewish AND democratic. 10:04  |  Michael 06/11/09
      13.   Yup It`s racist..prove me wrong 10:12  |  had enough 06/11/09
      14.   the "only democratic country" in the middle-east?? 10:23  |  Ramin 06/11/09
      15.   From what I read about Scandanavia, the BR, . . . 10:34  |  Zev Davis 06/11/09
      16.   gotta love the u.s. state department! 10:37  |  eric 06/11/09
      17.   Obama`s course is to destroy Israel 10:50  |  Abram Durak 06/11/09
      18.   Israel is racist and intolerant 10:52  |  David 06/11/09
      19.   intolerance 11:05  |  harry wald 06/11/09
      20.   peer 11 14:36  |  potobac 06/11/09
      21.   Our State Department Wears Blinders 14:36  |  Moshe 06/11/09
      22.   did you know... 15:35  |  edgar 06/11/09
      23.   Misguided concern 16:06  |  Walter 06/11/09
      24.   answer to Nechama 16:27  |  flora 06/11/09
      25.   Israel not a pluralistic society? 18:41  |  Jerri 06/11/09
      26.   Typical of Arab State Department 18:46  |  Gee 06/11/09
      27.   I wonder .. this report does not hit the world media 18:57  |  Sana 06/11/09
      28.   Zev Davis and the Singling Out of Jews as Victims 19:07  |  Yaakov Sullivan 06/11/09
      29.   Come on "had enough" #13! Disgraceful is your post! 2nd try 19:08  |  S 06/11/09
      30.   Totally one-sided; exagerated; and malevolent! 2nd try 19:22  |  S 06/11/09
      31.   #8 Swiss...has your little country decided 19:27  |  Lynn 06/11/09
      32.   Zev Davis- government imposed bigotry worse 19:40  |  Don Boston 06/11/09
      33.   "Israel is not a tolerant society"... 19:46  |  Esther 06/11/09
      34.   Unfortunately, it`s all true 19:46  |  Lee 06/11/09
      35.   I am looking forward to State Dept report on rights of Jews& 19:50  |  Women In SaudiArabia 06/11/09
      36.   #18, David, have you been? You are wrong 19:51  |  David 06/11/09
      37.   Israel is MORE Democratic than US..and that IS a problem 19:58  |  David 06/11/09
      38.   Good, bring it on! 20:14  |  Moises 06/11/09
      39.   Frankly, I`m surprised and pleased 20:59  |  hollingsworth 06/11/09
      40.   Not News to Anyone Jew or Non Who is Paying Attention 21:06  |  Lee Kaplan 06/11/09
      41.   Bigoted nonsense 21:15  |  r cummings 06/11/09
      42.   A few quick comments 1 21:35  |  Elmer 06/11/09
      43.   Some comments 2 21:48  |  Elmer 06/11/09
      44.   America is over-tolerant with tens of millions of illegals 21:51  |  Jason 06/11/09
      45.   Some comments 3 22:00  |  Elmer 06/11/09
      46.   No Fooling 22:25  |  robertsgt40 06/11/09
      47.   Here is the problem 22:28  |  Janice 06/11/09
      48.   Jewish "concern" 23:04  |  Paul 06/11/09
      49.   This is a load of crap 23:31  |  Linichka 06/11/09
      50.   "Israel is not a tolerant society..." 23:37  |  Esther 06/11/09
      51.   Israel demonizes itself 00:30  |  Drew 07/11/09
      52.   Earth to Israel 06:43  |  eaglesfanforever 07/11/09
      53.   israel: tolerant (???) 07:14  |  mark aleshnick 07/11/09
      54.   Totally one-sided; exagerated; and malevolent! (3rd try) 08:53  |  S 07/11/09
      55.   Ethnocracy 10:32  |  sylvie 07/11/09
      56.   AMERICA ISN`T A TOLERANT SOCIETY 11:20  |  Petra 07/11/09
      57.   To add to points made by Elmer 11:59  |  tim cole 07/11/09
      58.   Unfortunately true, even toward fellow Jews-- 12:13  |  a wandering Jew 07/11/09
      59.   Optimisitc Palestinian in diaspora... 12:22  |  Ameer 07/11/09
      60.   Tolerance 13:04  |  Richard 07/11/09
      61.   Read this if you have some grey matter 13:16  |  Richard 07/11/09
      62.   has the state dept avery large mirror 13:50  |  vhardman 07/11/09
      63.   Separation of temple and state 14:15  |  Michael 07/11/09
      64.   Yeah,Dudi, #6... 15:42  |  bob 07/11/09
      65.   U.S. Dept of State isj ust a copycat 16:55  |  *BEN JABO 07/11/09
      66.   #13 Kibbuth Mefalsim 16:59  |  *BEN JABO 07/11/09
      67.   Selective accusation 17:11  |  Alexandre 07/11/09
      68.   BEN JABO - USA 18:05  |  CJ 07/11/09
      69.   alexandre 51 20:36  |  potobac 07/11/09
      70.   Tolerance 21:16  |  Jay 07/11/09
      71.   Zev Davis 22:43  |  Chaphari 07/11/09
      72.   bob #48: it`s you who seem not to get it - 22:51  |  ivo 07/11/09
      73.   Michael is at it again 23:59  |  Robert 07/11/09
      74.   Michael #12 one question 02:26  |  Gee 08/11/09
      75.   This is not entirely accurate 02:44  |  C 08/11/09
      76.   Who are these people? 06:01  |  Adam Rahman 08/11/09
      77.   AM in NY Now that "Obama is returning to democratic values" 06:35  |  PETER SM 08/11/09
      78.   MICHAEL Why Britain cannot allow Sharia and be democratic 06:57  |  PETER SM 08/11/09
      79.   Shame on the " State"at a time when Iran/Islamic regimes are kill 16:15  |  ks 08/11/09
      80.   Tolerance 17:06  |  Victor 08/11/09
      81.   Abusing tolerance is happening and 17:35  |  syrian opinion 08/11/09
      82.   The Family Secret! 17:44  |  wheel12 08/11/09
      83.   Pot Callint Kettle Black 18:20  |  Earl Littlefield 08/11/09
      84.   Akiva Eldar at his usual 19:29  |  me 08/11/09
      85.   They should search at home! 07:58  |  D.S. 09/11/09
      86.   #85 Wheel 12 - The Palestinian`s had their State 10:29  |  *BEN JABO 09/11/09
      87.   Anti-Semite?? What?? 13:45  |  Anon 09/11/09
      88.   I hate to agree - but I must 13:55  |  Esther 09/11/09
      89.   bob #48: it`s you who seem not to get it - 00:11  |  Besk 11/11/09
      90.   U.S. State Department: Israel is not a tolerant society 04:00  |  Charlie 11/11/09
      91.   Christmas Decorations 11:56  |  Pauline 11/11/09
      92.   Nobody needs to demonize Israel, they`re doing it to themselves. 20:59  |  Cathy 15/11/09
      93.   Wearing a cross 05:29  |  Mannstein 16/11/09
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