Why Do I Support Israel?

As a left-leaning liberal, it seems to be the unspoken rule that I should be foursquare against Israel, its existence, and weeping bitter tears over the Palestinian mistreatment by same.

I used to do this. But, as per my motto (LOOK IT UP), I checked my bias at the door, and began to look at both sides of the conflict.

The facts, as they are, are astounding.

1. Israel is by no means a theocracy. The Zionist movement was (and is) secular in nature. There are no Arab secular movements (Turkey is a secular government overall, but creationism is making inroads there).

2. Israel is by no means Apartheid:

"1. Israel is considered to be a free nation.
2. The largest is the fact that within the borders of Israel proper, there is no political or legal distinction by race, religion, or sex with regards to voting rights. Like every country Israel, does limit political participation to citizens of a certain age, and does limit immigration into their country.
3. Hospitals and public services do not discriminate based upon race, religion, or sex. It should be noted in order to cater to the ultra-religious Jewish segment of the population (12-17%, see Religion in Israel), that for limited periods of time, certain community facilities (such as swimming pools) are men, or women only.
4. In small villages, cultural groups (religious) are the norm, but in the cities, and larger communities there is a mingling of ethnic and religious backgrounds.
5. The apartheid regime had gangs/militias/police enforcing rules through violence to which there was no legal recourse. This does not exist in Israel. And random attacks of violence are persecuted through the legal system.
6. Israel did not forcibly remove, or encourage the Arab population to leave Israel to the now occupied territories.
7. Arabs in the both Israel and the disputed/occupied territories have full access to Israeli courts and its legal system. The West Bank and Gaza were Arab lands designated to be used in the creation of a Palestinian state in 1948. These areas were then conquered in that year by Jordan, and Egypt respectively. In 1967 Israel took control of these lands from the Arab occupiers."

Follow the link provided, and compare it to Saudi Arabia.

I might also add, that not only does the Knesset have Arabian members, some of them are Palestinian.

There is no 'genocide' being enacted there. Do the math. ""The Palestinian population in west bank and Gaza in 48? 500,000. The Palestinian population after 50 years under the "Nazi" Zionist regime and their "holocaust"? 8 million. That's a 1600% increase. Jews must be really inefficient at that whole ethnic cleansing thing." [update - current figures are now at 9.8 - 10.8 million]

And when the military enacts an atrocity? "In its initial statements, the Israeli government initially declared that those critics who regarded the IDF as having responsibility for the events at Sabra and Shatila were guilty of "a blood libel against the Jewish state and its Government." However, as the news of the massacre spread around the world, the controversy grew, and on September 25, 300,000 Israelis — roughly one tenth of the country's then-population — demonstrated in Tel Aviv demanding answers."

So much for ethnic cleansing, hmmm? During the Hezbollah fiasco, Israel actually dropped fliers warning of impending attacks on targets.

Let's not forget that post-1948 (the Arab-Israeli war), that "During the war, approximately 720,000 (according to the UN) Palestinian Arabs fled to neighboring states, creating a desperate refugee problem which their host states refused to relieve. Discrimination and mistreatment of Jews in Arab and Muslim countries worsened, resulting in the Jewish exodus from Arab lands. Jewish immigrants and refugees continued to pour into Israel. Temporary refugee camps called ma'abarot were set up in Israel during the state's early years to absorb Jewish refugees. They were provided for in terms of funds and homes."

So let's nutshell this:

1. Voting rights. Compare to Arabic/Muslim countries (or apartheid), and tell me who's more 'liberal'.
2. Hospital care doesn't discriminate. Compare again.
3. Diversity is the norm in metropolitan areas.
4. Full access to the legal system.
5. The citizens protest when massacres occur.
6. Israel dropped fliers when engaged in military action.
7. No genocide is being enacted.
8. Not a theocracy by any stretch of the imagination.
9. And of course, the big gun: nobody cares if you're religious or not. You can even get elected in Israel! "Shulamit Aloni (1928—): Israeli politician and left-wing activist.She served as Israel's minister of education from 1992 to 1993." (let's see THAT happen in a Muslim country!) Given the flurry of concern generated in the US by Pete Stark's admission, I'm starting to think Israel's WAY ahead of us on so many items, in its short history.

The more I look at it, the less sympathy I have for the Palestinians. I have severe doubts they would've implemented any of these items if they were in 'power'.

That dear readers is my nickel's worth: spend it as you will.

Till the next post, then.