U.S. State Department: Israel is not a tolerant society

Did this report just come out under this administration? Makes you wonder.

I've been spat on in Jerusalem for wearing a cross. Other Christian pilgrims I know have had similar experiences. The Israeli police do nothing.

Nobody needs to demonize Israel, they're doing it to themselves. The Goldstone report wouldn't have much to say if Israel hadn't behaved like barbarians. Time after time Israel acts unreasonably and the USA defends them. There's a Middle Eastern saying: "He hit me and ran away crying." I think it suits Israel perfectly!

To Edgar, I have been living in Israel for 4 years now and every Christmas their are some shops and restaurants that have colourful decorations up, some including Christmas trees. I have not seen any shops etc closed for doing so. Even enjoyed a meal at a cafe in Netanya that had small decorated trees on each of the tables. You won't notice many establishments with such decorations, remember that Israel is majority Jewish.

No kidding.

quote: "the state didn`t kick out any of the minorities that didn`t choose to leave themselves after the war in 47-49, notably the arabs. you know what happened to jews in most muslim countries." are you kidding me? you heard bout plan D? read something of Avi Shlaim, id suggest Pappe, but you prolly wont believe him cause of israeli propaganda. i guess laila parsons and rashid kahlid might do as well.. do some real study, dont just eat what ever your government feeds you in elementary school.

I hate to agree - but I must. Living abroad, again, after making Aliah in 1994, I realise that if any other country or community treated Jews the way Israel(ies) treat non-Jews, they would have been called Anti-Semites immediately. And their actions racistic. And they would have been dragged to court. I was apalled to exeprience how Israel and Jews treat other people in Israel, without anybody stopping them. And the stamp in the teudat seot revealing "how Jewish" one is - or is not. This is one very important reason that I chose to raise my children outside Israel. When the political, and more, religious leaders are not concerned about treating other people the way they themselves want to be treated, the result is terrible! When and who will help turn this around?

People calling this report anti-semite are wrong, it's like throwing the "racism" card at anything that critizise the israeli gov't. I'm from Norway and Jerusalem Post has on numerous occations called my country "exceptionally anti-semite". They are using the word for everything that stands against the current gov't policy, why not make an argument against the stated "facts" instead of throwing that card around... laughable!

Given to them under the UN Partition Plan, instead of accepting, they attacked Israel instead Their desire for Peace, was the Peace of the dead for Israel Brush up on your history, it's all duly recorded Nobody imposed the condtions on the Palestinian's, it was self imposed

Israel is more tolerant towards minorities than the American society, including the U.S. government, although the Israeli and Jewish left preach to them otherwise. I know that all from personal experience!

As usual, Akiva Eldar plays loose with the facts. The U.S. State Department did not reach the bombastic conclusion his sensationalist title suggests. Rather, Akiva Eldar chose to interpret the report as such and put his conclusion in the State Department's mouth. Here is the actual report to read for people who actually want to inform themselves: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127349.htm You can also read similar reports about other countries in the world here. As usual, you'll find that Israel is not really much different than most other countries in the world. For example, how Switzerland arbitrarily defines who is a "fundamentalist" Imam to be denied residency. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/index.htm

Ironic that a country that took well over 200 years to "outlaw" apartheid and still has decades or centuries to go before eradicating it would expext such a small, surrounded nation to totally abolish it in a few decades. It is satirical for the US to call itself "enlightened".

Wow! The long kept family secret is finally out for the world to see. Israel has had 50 years to perfect intolerance. Come on boys and girls, look at the West Bank and tell each other how tolerant you are! It started as a trickle, now it will turn into a full blown flood. You have only one way out of the grand mess you have made. Give the Palestinians their state and peace. How would you like to live under the conditions that you have imposed on another people? You would not like it at all.

allowing lots of it causes issues. This is already the case in some of the most tolerating states in the west.

ing their people who are fighting for democracy, hurting women, gays killing all minorities jews, Bahais and christians the state dept has the gall to attack Israel the only true democracy on this planet. Same state department that kept the truth about the nazi's from the American people during ww11.The state department has always been anti-semetic and anti Israeli under roosevelt,under Carter and now under Obama it has become blatant. this is disgusting. Israel's supreme court often finds in favor of its noncitizens Palestinians which is unheard of in a democracy.Israel respects the rights of all peoples unlike the Islamic regimes

From The Sunday Times September 14, 2008 Revealed: UK?s first official sharia courts. --"Politicians and church leaders expressed concerns that this could mark the beginnings of a ?parallel legal system? based on sharia for some British Muslims. Dominic Grieve, the shadow home secretary, said: ?If it is true that these tribunals are passing binding decisions in the areas of family and criminal law, I would like to know which courts are enforcing them because I would consider such action unlawful. British law is absolute and must remain so.? Douglas Murray, the director of the Centre for Social Cohesion, said: ?I think it?s appalling. I don?t think arbitration that is done by sharia should ever be endorsed or enforced by the British state.? There are concerns that women who agree to go to tribunal courts are getting worse deals because Islamic law favours men."-- Meanwhile when can we expect the removal of Christian religious symbols from your flag?

Now that "Obama is returning to democratic values" how do you like the thank you in Fort Hood??"America made him do it" When can we expect your comments on terror against US stateside and from without,actual and threatened? The FBI reporting literally hundreds of thousands on their watch list.

Every time someone criticizes Israeli policy, without detailing, without giving any thought, people of this board dismisses all of it. They live in denial, and then believe, anything and everything Israel does, is KOSHER. And you expect us to believe that it is a tolerant society? I am sure plenty of people are tolerant, but where are they? Haaretz, being a left leaning newspaper, someone would expect to see tolerant writings. But where are they? Very very sad and depressing.

I lived in Israel and the US. I actually find the majority of Americans more intolerant than the majority of Israelis. There is alot of intolerance in Israel and most of it is from state policies. The issue is government policies that don't care about minority rights. I would also say that all minorities in Israel (Palestinian, religious, gay, Russian, etc.) tend to be much more intolerant than secular Israelis.

Israel is 80% Jewish. That is just a fact. England has a state religion, Church of England and the members constitute some 13% of the population. How can England be considered a democracy when the state religion is such a small minority? Try a little logic.

Michael the antisemite is at it again. This time he takes issue with Israel, 80% Jewish, should not be a Jewish State. While his beloved UK, 80% Christian, has the Head of the Anglican Church or Church of England as its' Head of State. No problem with the UK being a Christian country. The Brits retain supremacy in the art of deception and hypocrisy.

observant jews are a minority in israel. but yes, there is a problem w/the orthodox establishment's monopoly grip in certain areas. that doesn't mean israel isn't a democracy. if a jew wishes to marry a non-jew, something many have done, they just go to cyprus. nobody in israel will punish them for it. you can also leave your religion & choose freely between religions as far as the state is concerned. do compare that to the muslim countries.. are you expecting to find iranians living in israel? you think they'd have any wish to? the state didn't kick out any of the minorities that didn't choose to leave themselves after the war in 47-49, notably the arabs. you know what happened to jews in most muslim countries. no doubt the israeli system needs an overhaul & a few changes (possibly via a secular constitution), but just don't forget the great US still had racial segregation pretty recently, something israel never has had.

I agree with you.Same worn out old story.

The US State Department is not capable of determining who is Jewish and who is not Jewish. This is a determination to be made by appropriate Rabbinical authorities. Israel is a democracy with a state religion. All non Jewish bodies can pratice their religion, have their own churches and pray to whatever higher authority they please.as they do no preach violence and act violently towards Jews. No Christian or Mormom church has ever been interfered with. The only Church that seems to have a problem is the Church of the Holy sepulcher where various Christian denominations dispute the control of the church and Israel stays clear of this quarrel. Mormons do have a problem when they try to convert Jews, in violation of Israeli law. Judaism is based on Torah Law and the halachah and is administered by the Chief Rabbinate and has no authority over Christians, Muslims and any other religion. Jews are bound by these laws only in matters that are religious in nature, e.g. marriage, divorcee

The question isn't whether Israel is a democratic place compared to the Arabian states; it's whether it's a democratic place. Nobody would claim Israel isn't a more benevolent place than North Korea, but that's not the question. Somehow apologists for Israel always defend it by maintaining it's better than other places; they never refute the charges made against it.

hilarious

Israeli laws don't persecute the Christians and the Muslims. It's a democratic place comparing to the Arabian states. In Algeria, having a Bible can take you to jail. And in Palestine and Iran, conversion from Islam means death. The Israelis have the right not to be too tolerant. We the French are a great example of foolish tolerance (a majority of our Muslim immigrants are without respect towards our flag and our secular laws are endangered)

I see you're still complaining Feel free to leave and head for home, which you left because you weren't happy there either

They have always copied the motions of the British Foreign Office Notice how well Hillary is doing, virtually all the agreements she thought she made wit agreements countries have fallen apart Think Iran & North Korea, let's not forget Russia

How many Iranians live inside Israel? I do believe that there are tens of thousand Jews living in Iran, and they are not harmed. Is it possible for a Jew in Israel to marry a non-Jew? You just don't get it, but the world does. Now you should refuse any more of our US tax monies to prop up your orthodox non-democracy. Oh, yes, write a constitution for your country, since you don't yet have one.

Religious states by definition are devisive and intolerant. With it's quasi-democracy dominated by religious zealots, Israel is more like Iran than the USA.

if they have before writing total crap they should look into it deep and hard !

Middle East oil Chomsky explained that Middle East oil reserves were understood to be ?a stupendous source of strategic power? and ?one of the greatest material prizes in world history,? the most ?strategically important area in the world,? in Eisenhower?s words. Control of Middle East oil would provide the United States with ?substantial control of the world.? This meant that the US ?must support harsh and brutal regimes and block democracy and development? in the Middle East.

http://sabbah.biz/mt/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/NormanFinkelstein.jpg

I am optimistic to see that some Israelis are becoming more aware of whats happening around them.

--who support Israel's citizens and its future. As a comment not defending or justifying Israel's policies, most Western Democracies fail to enforce laws protecting minorities. The US is/has been particularly lacking in this enforcement, If it were not for the right of individuals and groups to initiate legal actions against discrimination, the US would not be as open or as free as it appears. Maybe Israel should contemplate similar laws and policies.

which are quite valid. Israel likes to portray itself as a liberal western democracy, Jewish in character, which shares its values with the West. As such it is invaid to cite conditions in Arab countries which make no pretence about the nature of their societies. Israel is in fact fast becoming a Jewish theocracy to the detriment and oppression of its minorities. Ramin used the words 'Ethnic democracy'. Let's call it for what that really means. Apartheid.

Every minority arriving in America has been met w/ resistence. "Irish need not apply." Puerto Ricans in New York, Mexicans in the western states. tolerant? Suuuuuuurrrre we are. But, we voted for a pro muslim for president, let's see how long this lasts. He bows to the Saudi king after thomas Jefferson stopped this servant bowing of the head over 200 years ago. And you say Israel isn't tolerant? Try America and Obama in particular he seems to hate Israel. Yet, he knows America needs Israel more than Israel needs America.

Professor Oren Yiftachel of Ben Gurion University has described Israel as an 'ethnocracy' in which one ethnic group - the Jews - enjoy the rights and privileges of democracy and everyone else is partially or fully excluded from enjoyment of those rights and privileges. This is not a matter of opinion but, as the USSD report points out, of actual practice. Our claims to be 'the only democracy in the Middle East' are truly hollow.

... one-sided because it mentions everything totally negatively without mentioning FREEDOM! To "recognize" or "not recognize" means little in a free country! Actually all holy sites in Israel are completely accessible to all faiths. Just ask all christians living in, or visiting Israel! The same with Muslims, of course. Or Bahai's or whatever. And contrary to the calumnies one can hear here, there are many Arabs and therefore lawyers, doctors, engineers, etc, in Israeli universities. The so called "lack of tolerance" should be seen in view of freedom or lack of it, just like in Europe or the US. I lived in all those places. They are free but lack of tolerance is widespread. Arabs in France, blacks in a few parts of America, Jews in many places, foreigners in general, etc...Yet, there is no place like America in the whole world! NONE! Certainly not in Europe! The language used by this "tolerance" report would apply to Iran or Saudi Arabia or Zimbabwe but not Israel. Stronger...

I doubt a greater oxymoron exists

Why do so many people from all over the world risk their lives to get to Israel...and why are the Sudanese risking everything to crawl to Israel through such terrible obstacles (the muslim Egyptians)?" How come the vietnamese boat people chose to stay in Israel and how come I never have a problem when I stay in Israel for months at a time and want to pray in the church of my choice? You are

Obama is not demonizing Israel. Israel's actions are demonizing Israel. Have a problem with the report, then name a protected muslim site? Can't? Your type employs such rhetoric, but will never dare engage the substance of the reports your condemn - because the content itself is true. The name "Goldstone" comes to mind.

... hilarious understatement...

I'm an Israeli Christian and have never been discriminated against in any manner. Employers have allowed me to work Fridays rather than Sundays and take time off on the major holidays. Access to all holy sites is trouble-free and secure. No one gives a damn that I am not Jewish. The USSD is listening to disgruntled Arabs who are always whining about something, anyway.

The loudest advocates for social justice and promotion of multi-culturalism in everyone else's countries seems to be Jews. Yet when it comes to Israel the opposite is clearly the case. Co-incidence?

The problem is that Israel proclaims to the world that it is a democratic state. It has never proclaimed that it is a democratic state only for its Jewish population. Should it do that then Israel would have to be considered a theocracy, not a democracy. No one considers either Saudi Arabia or Iran to be democracies and, unlike Israel, they do not proclaim themselves as such. If a large percentage of Israel's population are non-Jews, as they are, and they are not considered as equals to the Jewish population with all the same rights as Jewish population, then Israel cannot be considered to be a democratic country. I'm sorry to say that even from its inception Israel has never been a tolerant country. Maybe that has been the source of many of its problems.

Great observation. Christ could have told you this.

I'm trying to think of a quick example. Suppose someone is told he has body odor. He replies, 'Well,I don't smell as bad as a skunk!' Is that a defense? (I could have found a better example, but you get my drift.) That is what some of you do by finger-pointing and name calling. You do Israel a disservice. Referencing something I said earlier: The US has gotten itself all caught up in its underwear in regards to race. Sooner or later, we will correct it. Israel has gotten itself all caught up in its underwear in regards to religion. Sooner or later, it will correct it. Both are good countries, but denying we have any shortcomings will delay improvement.

And a huge amount of land with friendly neighbors.

Some of you complain that the State Dept. doesn't talk about states like Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. State released reports on those countries on the same day. State says Israel has freedom of religion but those states do not. Some of you were too lazy to find that out. The report deals only with religion. State also has general pages on every country, dealing with a wide range of subjects. Israel (excluding Occupied Territories) comes across very, very well. The countries some of you want to compare with, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc, come across badly. So don't say that State ignores them. Saying that the Palestinians, Iran, the Saudis, etc. are worse than Israel is true. But it does Israel no good to compare Israel to the worst of the worst. Don't you understand how that looks to the average person who reads these Talkbacks? It is not a defense. It's the same as admitting that accusations against Israel, no matter how wild, are true.

I just took a very quick skim of part of the report itself (eleven pages of very fine print). The article is very misleading. The report does not say that Israel is an intolerant society. The report itself says that Israel official policy is and that Israel practices freedom of religion. It does say that only Jewish sites are officially designated as holy sites, but that other sites have de facto protection and also protection under criminal law. Not the best of all possible worlds, but certainly not the worst, either. The problems with Israel's marriage laws are presetnly being debated in Israel. If I remember right, polls show that the great majority of Israelis favor changes. Even Avigdor Lieberman recognizes some of these as problems, inequities, and has suggested changes. But based on some of your comments, maybe some of you think that Lieberman is a left-wing, anti-Zionist, unpatriotic, self-hating Jew.

One should view modern Israel as different. It has after all had its very existence threatened several times. They face the possible threat of a nuclear attack from Iran. They have rockets fired into their country. Ergo, racial and religious intolerance and restriction are AOK, are they Walter? I seem to recall that Britain was fighting for its life once , having its mercantile lifeline sunk, being bombed, rocketed and threatened with invasion. It didn't seem to need racial or religious intolerance or suchlike rubbish to survive, in fact the reverse. The guise of the racial or religious supremacist is a thin one Walter, as Jews well know. It has no moral justification in peace or war and is a poor basis upon which to base a national strategy or policies. .

Really, is anyone surprised? Recent polls say 31 percent of Israelis believe =Arab citizens= of Israel should be expelled from the country.

I have always thought of our State Dept. as completely overrun and under the control of the zionist neocons. How pleasant to learn of this report. It suggests, to me anyway, that there are still some courageous, not easily intimided S.D. officials - people who are not afraid to be called "anti-semites" merely for reporting the truth about Israel.

Maybe now we Jews will stop trusting in the US and start trusting in G-d.

When countries have multiple political parties and not just 2 primary ones, the small parties that are always include in the coalitions have unusual power not seen in a country like the US with 2 primary political parties. IT makes it more democratic, but also creates more problems in my opinion. Eurabia is full of states with multiple political parties. I think its a flawed model. In Israel you see the results of the European Model. I know Israel increased the number of voters required to register the party. I say it should be much higher to discourage all these small parties. When Labor and Likud controled at least 2/3rd of the Knesset things worked better. Now its difficult to keep the government together which is critical to long term changes. Israeli society is fairly tolerant as far as I am concerned, but its the political system that is broken. Everyone can work on being more tolerant. View what to improve, not what cant.

Israel is a very complex society, not perfect, but the blending of different ethnicities, religions, customs is a modern miracle. Its something to be proud of, and something to be worked on.

As an ardent Zionist, it saddens me to have to admit this. This is one reason why the Left is so disappointing: By missing the boat so badly with regard to peacemaking and ending the occupation successfully, they come off as untrustworthy with regard to the above issues.

... the understatement of all time...

First, the State Department makes similar assessments about many states, not just Israel. The same criteria are applied to all. Second, there is a huge difference between the bigtory of some individuals and government-imposed bigotry. The bigotry reported here is that of the Israeli government, not just some individuals. Israel makes a big deal out being the only western-style democracy in the region, but it not. This report shows that it is not "western-style" and the fact that over 3,000,000 persons under Israeli dominion cannot vote shows that it is not even a true democracy. Just more proaganda, like the "most moral army."

on the minarets for mosques yet? Did the vote work in favor of them or against them again? After all calling anyone a bigot when your countrymen are all bigots would seem like pot, kettle, black

... one-sided because it mentions everything totally negatively without mentioning FREEDOM! "Recognize" or "not recognize" means nothing in a free country! Actually all holy sites are completely accessible to all faiths. Just ask all christians living in Israel! The same with Muslims, of course. The so called "lack of tolerance" should be seen in view of freedom or lack of it, just like in Europe or the US. I lived in all those places. They are free but lack of tolerance is widespread. Arabs in France, blacks in certain parts of America, Jews in many places, foreigners in general, etc... The language used by this report would apply to Iran or Saudi Arabia or Zimbabwe but not Israel. In fact, it would apply to the majority of the 114 countries who voted against Israel in the UN!!!

"... I see where Haaretz is going with this article, and you pretend to be a left wing paper...." (had enough) Check the media: ...CNN, The New York Times, etc... You will get all details you are yearning after. By the way, Haaretz is not Left enough for you? This complaint of yours is something new over here... Schwer a yid zu befriedigen...

This is a usual zionist argument. Single out the Jews as victims, exceptionalism in the world's hatred not euqally distributed, the vicitmisation of the Jews while others acused are neglected or overlooked. He states several examples. As for the US reacting strongly to other forms of vicitmisation, the US ordered the bombing of the Balkans during the killing actions of the Albanians by Serb paramilitaries. Germans might not like Kurds but they grant them citizenship and are not expelling them or taking over their homes to supply the German race with lebensraum for German "natural growth". What Mr. Davis is implying is that the world should not focus on Israel at all and if they do daub them as anti-semites, Jew haters. Let them do what they do and keep your mouth shut and focus on somebody else is what he is saying. Thank god there are tose who refuse to accept his whitewas and exploitation of false victimisation. It is a ploy to deflect any criticism of Israel.

Yes Muslims are not tolerant to (though Islam does not permit this) Jews because of killing millions of Palestinians and thefting their land. Jews behavior with Muslims and Islam is from the Quranic revelations onto Prophet Mohammed PBUH. Till today Jews cry Allah did not send the prophet in them (jews). They discourage and did not obeyed the decision of Allah so rejected Prohphet Mohammed too. Since then jews has enmity towards Islam & Muslims. Yes, everyone today should deny the Jews inflated Holocaust balloon. Till date you (jews) cried too much of few thousands that got killed only due to their injustice (like you're doing in USA today) in the land of Germany. All western countries killed millions of muslims in afghanistan/pakistan/iraq since 2001; due Sept 11, 2001 lie. I wish more and more western Govt. should come up with a report like this.

When in doubt invent something. Yes we are a very tolerant society. The main complaint is that we are Jewish and our religion does not like proselytization. Too bad! As for foreigners that complain about the paperwork that is bad, but all countries have the same kind of issues.

And America IS a pluralistic society? America needs to fix itself before it condemns other countries.

If Israel agree to take care holy site of 3 different religion, do it, or give the land with the holy site to the people of that religion and stop mendle in it!! simple

In its short history, modern Israel has had its very existence threatened several times. They face the possible threat of a nuclear attack from Iran. They have rockets fired into their country. My question is, shouldn't the State Department be concerned more with the intolerance of Israel's existence by those who want her destruction? The U.S. has had the luxury of being tolerant, as we have often been thousands of miles away from our enemies. Now we define tolerance in a politically correct sense, as not to offend anyone for any reason. As a result, we have sacrificed security for tolerance. The 9/11 hijackers were here as a result of our tolerance and political correctness.

that in Israel a hotel or restaurant can lose its kosher license if it displays a Christmas tree? Which is why you won't find any? Wonder what would happen in the US if menorahs.... oh never mind.

State occasionally makes comments without thought or understanding of a nation at war for its entire life.It has made another.Would a nation condemned by much of the Arab world and having fought 5 major wars and many low grade conflicts have allowed Arab citizens to become members of the Knesset,and acting president of Israel,speaker of the Knesset,diplomats,judges,members of the IDF,including at least one general?Would Israel have allowed wounded Arabs,including terrorists,to be transported and treated in Israeli hospitals during the Operation Cast Lead?Most of the religions cited by State are missionary types and for the past 2000 years we have had enough experience and patience with them ranging from "friendly persuasion" to the burning at the stake to convert us.While many posters are severely critical of the Jewish State and support State's conclusions,some who have no ill will toward Israel and express fair criticisms-assumptions which are difficult to determine-are accepted.

Accept the law of the country .. if not? you're more than welcome to leave. I find it more than difficult to believe you would accept those as a reasonable statements if they were made in another country about Jews. I suppose you think this anti-semitic, but many people feel Jews should be treated the same as everyone else - no better, no worse - and that if it is wrong to be done TO a Jew, it is wrong to be done BY a Jew.

Intolerance! I am afraid that tolerance is not a term that i would apply to israeli society and culture. As much as I love Israel, Israelis are not tolerant of each other regardless of nationality, religion, or beliefs. it has nothing to do with discrimination, because they are equally intolerant of everyone who challenges their personal views, goals, or behaviour. Years of struggling has created a harsh society, sometimes.

Shhhh...don't tell Israelis that. They will call you a terrorist-loving anti-semite.

The love-hate relations with the US are over. We are heading to the hate mostly because the democratic values in the US are also on retreat. Israel should face the truth: we are back to pre-1967 situation alone and vulnerable.

it's perhaps the ONE part of the american government that is beyond the reach of aipac and the american congress.

Seems that Arabs and Moslems in Scandanavia are having a hard time with young, white, secular Swedes behaving in anti-social ways towards them. Many Germans aren't happy about the "former gastarbeiter" who have now become citizens of the BR, Turks, as well as the refugees from the Balkans. Some Germans don't like Kurds, either. The French have issues with Algerians who arrived illegally and have yet to leave. Even the Greeks and Macedonians are not happy with the Albanians that cross the border to find better jobs. Does it bother the US State Department about those issues?! I guess not, but Jews, of course have to be better, otherwise we are worse.

we should call it semi-democratic or even an ethnic democracy!

Still waiting for my "proper" work permit, shame I ain't jewish, that's the problem here. Consider I took my Israeli jewish wife to England and the state said 'Jewish' no you have to wait for approval, shame she wasn't christian" THAT IS THE REALITY HERE

Zionism is based on outmoded 19th century European nationalism. Europe moved on post-WW2 and created open, secular, tolerant, multi-ethnic societies. Israel is still stuck in an era where blood and religion ruled societies. Somehow, it needs to transform into a society where Israel is a country for all Israelis, not just for Jews. Bibi's choice of cabinet and the fact that he's still endlessly banging on about Israel being recignised as The Jewish State shows just how far Israel has to go yet.

".....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...." Is this reporter living in Israel?... This is a Jewisch state...duuuhh? Come and live here,and in doing so?...accept the law of this country...if not?..you're more then welcome to leave...and don't let the door hit your ass on your way out....

"The report makes it clear that practices that have become routine in Israel are considered unacceptable in enlightened countries and should be corrected". Says it all really. Only two years ago the Prime Minister of Israel proposed partially demolishishing the holiest place in the whole of Christendom the Church of the Holy Sephulcre.

As Goldstone is to Israel at war, this is to Israel at peace

....in the U.S. Congress !! I'm sure today they will order some 500 + "blindfolders" from American Airlines, so they won't have to see it...:)

Our government is strong on the rhetoric of tolerance, but, as these figures show, it doesn?t follow through. When our friends criticize us, our government should take notice and act. Israel would be a better country if the government were to take equal care of ALL its inhabitants, instead of treating many of its varied and valuable human resources as second-rate.

Haaretz conveniently fails to mention the name of the person who wrote the report... and also fails to condemn it. Anyone who's ever been to Israel knows what that report is presenting is a complete and utter lie and the State Department should be ashamed that it escaped the shredder.

If you voted for Obama... well there you go. You got what you asked for. What about Jewish holy sites in Syria, Iraq, Sudan? What about treatment of women there? Or Jews? Does this administration think Israel is located in Nebraska? Israel is a new democracy, surrounded by 300,000,000 Arabs who want to over run it, where human rights do not exist at all, and Obama wants to focus on Israel not being as perfect as Nebraska.

Israel is not tolerant of muslims? They refer to Jews as dogs & pigs, and we are the ones who are not tolerant? Iran who denies the Holocaust and repeatedly threatens to wipe Israel off the map, but Jews are not tolerant of them? Oh, I guess muslim countries are tolerant of Jews? Jews cannot even step foot in some muslim states. Jews enterring Saudi Arabia may not bring Jewish articles of faith. How many synogagues are there in Saudi Arabia? None! They swear they want to kill us but we should hug them? Israel is a Jewish state, yet she is responsible for the upkeep of christian & muslim sites? 1.3 billion catholics, 1.5 billion muslims, only 12 million Jews and we should upkeep their holy sites? Most arab states don't even allow christian and Jewish sites, yet Israel is the one criticized? Is anyone surprised obama's state department drafted this incredibly biased anti-Israel report?

In which rabbit hole have they been hiding their heads?

This comes as news to *anyone*?

Now the U.S State Government is also becoming anti-semite..