Tel Aviv Gay Pride Week accused of “pinkwashing” Israeli abuses

[rooster59]

Tel Aviv Gay Pride Week accused of “pinkwashing” Israeli abuses

By Robert Hackwill



Tel Aviv has become in the last decade a choice destination for the gay community on holiday, and Gay Pride Week which kicks off on Friday has become huge, with 200,000 people expected to party.

From a couple of thousand gay tourists in 2006 to some 50,000 today it has been a goldmine for the city and a touted success for the Brand Israel campaign, launched in 2005.

Its brief was to change Israel’s image from a country at war to a fun, liberal playground, modern and welcoming.

However some in the Israeli LGBT community are furious, and say the whole vibe is nothing more than “pinkwashing” of what they call Israel’s policies of occupation, segregation, and violence.

The Boycott Tel Aviv Gay Pride group intends to campaign for tourists to realise that Israel is not the human rights oasis it is trying to sell itself as.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-06-04

[Usernames]

Wow. Just when you thought you'd seen and heard everything.

[Tchooptip]

Wow. Just when you thought you'd seen and heard everything.

"Just when you thought you'd seen and heard everything." Maybe it was a little presumptuous...

[Jingthing]

Israel can't win.

Have a pride parade, it's pinkwashing.

Don't have a pride parade, you're just like the rest of the Middle East where gays are murdered for being gay.

To hell with that! Have the parades!

Tel Aviv is indeed among the greatest urban gay meccas in the world today.

That is not fake propaganda.
It's real.

The rest of Israel ... not so much. So gays flock to Tel Aviv like American gays used to flock to San Francisco and New York but now no longer really need to.

Tel Aviv scene ... rainbow flags and mosque. Find that elsewhere in the Middle East ... you can't:

Edited June 4, 2016 by Jingthing

[ggt]

I do not recall any gay pride week in Muslim countries...and gays do not complain about the lack of recognition there...

Maybe they could move the event to Tehran, or an ISIS held territory since Israel is gaining some unintended good press...

Some people do not know when or how to enjoy their freedom of expression...

[Jingthing]

The thing is any city the size of Tel Aviv that has established itself as an urban gay mecca is probably going to have gay pride events these days. They vary, not always parades, for example Bangkok Thais never got into parades, but there are still gay pride related events in Bangkok. The "pinkwashing" BS attack presumes the advances for gay freedom including for Israeli Arabs aren't real. That it's just for show. But they are real. So the pinkwash critics seem to be suggesting that Israeli GLBT shouldn't celebrate normally as in any other nation. Having a parade isn't a statement that everything is perfect in society any more than it would be for a parade in Mexico.

GLBT Israelis don't enjoy full legal equality ... but in the context of the globe, especially the Middle East, they're batting way over average.

To add, Gay Pride events are also held in nations where GLBT people are severely oppressed and the participants are risking their careers and sometimes their lives. That's how it is these days. Sometimes all about the party. Often a mix of the party plus GLBT civil rights political protest. And sometimes pretty much all political GLBT civil rights protest.

I read there was a historic recent public protest in Lebanon for GLBT civil rights. They aren't even at the level where they could have a parade that would risk their lives there, but it's a start. Give them 100 years or so.

In the context of Israel, Israelis are free to have public protests about Palestinian conflict issues. There is no reason why that should be part of Gay Pride events though.

Edited June 4, 2016 by Jingthing

[coma]

The thing is any city the size of Tel Aviv that has established itself as an urban gay mecca is probably going to have gay pride events these days. They vary, not always parades, for example Bangkok Thais never got into parades, but there are still gay pride related events in Bangkok. The "pinkwashing" BS attack presumes the advances for gay freedom including for Israeli Arabs aren't real. That it's just for show. But they are real. So the pinkwash critics seem to be suggesting that Israeli GLBT shouldn't celebrate normally as in any other nation. Having a parade isn't a statement that everything is perfect in society any more than it would be for a parade in Mexico.

GLBT Israelis don't enjoy full legal equality ... but in the context of the globe, especially the Middle East, they're batting way over average.

To add, Gay Pride events are also held in nations where GLBT people are severely oppressed and the participants are risking their careers and sometimes their lives. That's how it is these days. Sometimes all about the party. Often a mix of the party plus GLBT civil rights political protest. And sometimes pretty much all political GLBT civil rights protest.

I read there was a historic recent public protest in Lebanon for GLBT civil rights. They aren't even at the level where they could have a parade that would risk their lives there, but it's a start. Give them 100 years or so.

In the context of Israel, Israelis are free to have public protests about Palestinian conflict issues. There is no reason why that should be part of Gay Pride events though.

"However some in the Israeli LGBT community are furious, and say the whole vibe is nothing more than “pinkwashing” of what they call Israel’s policies of occupation, segregation, and violence".

I bet you must feel like you're between a rock and a hard place on this one.

[mopar71]

They should punish Israel by holding next year's parade in Gaza. That would teach 'em!

[Jingthing]

They should punish Israel by holding next year's parade in Gaza. That would teach 'em!

Good point. Send the silly "pinkwashing" accusers to be gay (and/or a Jew) in Gaza ... one way ticket!

Israel is a small nation that has some things to be proud of and some things that need work.

The blossoming of Tel Aviv as one of the major GLBT cities in the world is one of the proud things.

Haters gonna hate.

The parades will continue. Get used to it.

Edited June 4, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

More about the ridiculous charge of pinkwashing:

The “No Pinkwashing” campaign essentially wants us to disregard Israel’s human rights record when examining its human rights record. None of it matters anyway because Israel is an “apartheid state” and anything good or democratic in Israel is simply a rouse (quite an elaborate one at that).

So let me deal with the human rights record of Israel, particularly in the area the Pinkwash campaigners focus on: the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

(SEE ARTICLE IN LINK)

http://www.d-intl.com/2013/10/20/no-means-too-cheap-to-wipe-out-israel/?lang=en

More "pinkwashing"

https://www.idfblog.com/blog/2015/06/11/new-idf-policy-supports-equality-sex-parents/

New IDF Policy Supports Equality for Same-Sex Parents

Edited June 4, 2016 by Jingthing

[Diplomatico]

"However some in the Israeli LGBT community are furious, and say the whole vibe is nothing more than “pinkwashing” of what they call Israel’s policies of occupation, segregation, and violence".

I bet you must feel like you're between a rock and a hard place on this one.

Or between Iraq and a hard place.

Edited June 5, 2016 by Diplomatico

[coma]

They should punish Israel by holding next year's parade in Gaza. That would teach 'em!

Jeez. That would be interesting. Hamas would have a field day.

[dexterm]

To hold a Gay Pride Week to promote the human rights of all sexual preferences is admirable. It is the hijacking of the event for propaganda purposes that is the problem.

Will they allow an Israeli Queers Against the Occupation float in the parade? https://queersagainstapartheid.org/

The Boycott Tel Aviv Gay Pride group intends to campaign for tourists to realise that Israel is not the human rights oasis it is trying to sell itself as.

They point out that event is heavily financed by the Israeli government as part of its Brand Israel campaign as a distraction from the fact that less than an hour away, the same government is denying human rights to 4.5 million Palestinians.

The Pinkwashing is the Israeli government saying "Look here at what wonderful liberal human beings we are; but don't look over the fence there."

As their boycott video exposes..

[Krataiboy]

I reckon those of us who have the misfortune not to be LGBT should start to organise a few parades of our own to balance things up. Otherwise, the way things are going, heterosexuals could end up a more endangered species than Thai tigers.

[BB24]

I reckon those of us who have the misfortune not to be LGBT should start to organise a few parades of our own to balance things up. Otherwise, the way things are going, heterosexuals could end up a more endangered species than Thai tigers.

I demand the right to being treated equally in law and to be treated the same as everyone else in society - fair enough - yes.

And I want to march down the road with my friends and parade my individuality and my pride in being different - pardon?

I want to be the same and I want to march (with pride) about my difference - huh??

I never got the 'march with pride' khrapp and I guess I never will - whether in Isreal or Gaza - makes no sense to me.

[Andaman Al]

They should punish Israel by holding next year's parade in Gaza. That would teach 'em!

Good point. Send the silly "pinkwashing" accusers to be gay (and/or a Jew) in Gaza ... one way ticket!

Israel is a small nation that has some things to be proud of and some things that need work.

The blossoming of Tel Aviv as one of the major GLBT cities in the world is one of the proud things.

Haters gonna hate.

The parades will continue. Get used to it.

But what you are missing is that the silly "pinkwashing" accusers are infact

"However some in the Israeli LGBT community are furious, and say the whole vibe is nothing more than “pinkwashing” of what they call Israel’s policies of occupation, segregation, and violence".

That is the Israeli Gays themselves.

I find it more than amusing with all his anti Muslim rhetoric that Jingthing refers to Tel Aviv as an 'Urban Gay Mecca'. It is quite funny dont you think, that and of course the 'pinkwashing' accusers being members of the Israeli LGBT community itself? Some one seems a little confused on all this me thinks.

[Morch]

The OP is a good example of bad journalism.

The main story is that there was a rather large scale LGBT event. Not much of a story there, they have them pretty regularly.

The non-story, made into a headline, reflects the views of an advocacy group, and a rather small one, at that.

On the Euronews website, the story links to two sources. The first being an article on Mondoweiss ((characteristically anti-Israel) by two authors associated with said advocacy group , and the second to a opinion column in Haaretz, which actually promotes a differing, more balanced take on things (a mistake or misrepresentation on Euronews part). The Euronews story is simply a condensed rehashed version of the former, without any added background, commentary or insight. The advocacy group mentioned is more Palestinian than Israeli, and is basically a BDS offshoot.

Tel Aviv Gay Pride Week accused of "pinkwashing" Israeli abuses

http://www.euronews.com/2016/06/03/tel-aviv-gay-pride-week-accused-of-pinkwashing-israeli-abuses/

Tel Aviv Gay Pride: Not a cause for celebration

http://mondoweiss.net/2016/06/pride-cause-celebration/

Pinkwatching Israel

http://www.pinkwatchingisrael.com/

Don’t Pinkwash the Occupation, But Don’t Whitewash Gay Pride Either

http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.722954

[Steely Dan]

The OP is a good example of bad journalism.

The main story is that there was a rather large scale LGBT event. Not much of a story there, they have them pretty regularly.

The non-story, made into a headline, reflects the views of an advocacy group, and a rather small one, at that.

On the Euronews website, the story links to two sources. The first being an article on Mondoweiss ((characteristically anti-Israel) by two authors associated with said advocacy group , and the second to a opinion column in Haaretz, which actually promotes a differing, more balanced take on things (a mistake or misrepresentation on Euronews part). The Euronews story is simply a condensed rehashed version of the former, without any added background, commentary or insight. The advocacy group mentioned is more Palestinian than Israeli, and is basically a BDS offshoot.

Tel Aviv Gay Pride Week accused of "pinkwashing" Israeli abuses

http://www.euronews.com/2016/06/03/tel-aviv-gay-pride-week-accused-of-pinkwashing-israeli-abuses/

Tel Aviv Gay Pride: Not a cause for celebration

http://mondoweiss.net/2016/06/pride-cause-celebration/

Pinkwatching Israel

http://www.pinkwatchingisrael.com/

Don’t Pinkwash the Occupation, But Don’t Whitewash Gay Pride Either

http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.722954

So the self flagellation comes from the lunatic far left and not the LGBT community as a whole, what a surprise.

P.s Jingthing, 'Gay Mecca' is a phrase which on reflection sounds as silly as would say a feminist Mecca.

[Jingthing]

It's not my term, Steely Dan.

It's been used for decades to describe cities that gays of any country flock to for negative and positive reasons.

Negative reasons being to escape the oppression of where they're at and positive to be in great cities where there are many people like you, so you're not a tiny minority.

There are parallels to Zionism in that, though of course gay people aren't interested in a national movement.

[Jingthing]

The OP is a good example of bad journalism.

The main story is that there was a rather large scale LGBT event. Not much of a story there, they have them pretty regularly.

The non-story, made into a headline, reflects the views of an advocacy group, and a rather small one, at that.

On the Euronews website, the story links to two sources. The first being an article on Mondoweiss ((characteristically anti-Israel) by two authors associated with said advocacy group , and the second to a opinion column in Haaretz, which actually promotes a differing, more balanced take on things (a mistake or misrepresentation on Euronews part). The Euronews story is simply a condensed rehashed version of the former, without any added background, commentary or insight. The advocacy group mentioned is more Palestinian than Israeli, and is basically a BDS offshoot.

Tel Aviv Gay Pride Week accused of "pinkwashing" Israeli abuses

http://www.euronews.com/2016/06/03/tel-aviv-gay-pride-week-accused-of-pinkwashing-israeli-abuses/

Tel Aviv Gay Pride: Not a cause for celebration

http://mondoweiss.net/2016/06/pride-cause-celebration/

Pinkwatching Israel

http://www.pinkwatchingisrael.com/

Don’t Pinkwash the Occupation, But Don’t Whitewash Gay Pride Either

http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.722954

So the self flagellation comes from the lunatic far left and not the LGBT community as a whole, what a surprise.

P.s Jingthing, 'Gay Mecca' is a phrase which on reflection sounds as silly as would say a feminist Mecca.

Yes, there are extremist leftists everywhere, and some are Jews, and some are Israeli Jews. As Morch pointed out, the "pinkwashing" accusing Jews are a small minority of Jews and Israeli Jews. The story is much more about JEW-WASHING than pinkwashing.

[Morch]

@dexterm

Whinging about hijacking events for propaganda purposes only when it suits one's agenda is to be expected. Same goes for complaining about politicization of events, while advocating representation of political views supporting one's position.

The organization linked in the post above, QuAIA, is not an Israeli organization (and I believe defunct now, anyway). Can't find a link to an actual organization named "Israeli Queers Against the Occupation", may wish to exercise greater care when copy pasting from Electronic Intifada "articles" (https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/video-tel-aviv-pride-cant-pinkwash-israels-crimes). The "Israeli activists" cited calling for cancellation of the parade did so because of a somewhat different. more "domestic" agenda:

Gay Activists Call to Cancel Tel Aviv Pride Parade Over State's Preferential Treatment of Tourists

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.714844

To partially quote one of the comments on the YouTube page linked - "The main point is that one can be both proud of Israel's record on gay rights and still be critical of current government policy. One does not obviate the other." Apparently, too complex a concept for some.

[Jingthing]

I reckon those of us who have the misfortune not to be LGBT should start to organise a few parades of our own to balance things up. Otherwise, the way things are going, heterosexuals could end up a more endangered species than Thai tigers.

I demand the right to being treated equally in law and to be treated the same as everyone else in society - fair enough - yes.

And I want to march down the road with my friends and parade my individuality and my pride in being different - pardon?

I want to be the same and I want to march (with pride) about my difference - huh??

I never got the 'march with pride' khrapp and I guess I never will - whether in Isreal or Gaza - makes no sense to me.

I don't know what country you live in, but if you're in the west, or advanced nations like Israel, etc. you are certainly at liberty to organize political protests or parades for anything you like.

But you know, heterosexual people are the vast majority in every country in the world, so pretty much ANY parade is already a heterosexual parade.

The historical original of the Gay Pride parade movement was in reaction to the police raids on the Stonewall Inn in New York. The first pride parades were all about resisting social oppression and anti gay laws. This tradition continues in many nations today where GLBT people are still severely oppressed by their societies. Somehow I don't think heterosexual people have those kinds of issues in any nation.

[Morch]

The OP is a good example of bad journalism.

The main story is that there was a rather large scale LGBT event. Not much of a story there, they have them pretty regularly.

The non-story, made into a headline, reflects the views of an advocacy group, and a rather small one, at that.

On the Euronews website, the story links to two sources. The first being an article on Mondoweiss ((characteristically anti-Israel) by two authors associated with said advocacy group , and the second to a opinion column in Haaretz, which actually promotes a differing, more balanced take on things (a mistake or misrepresentation on Euronews part). The Euronews story is simply a condensed rehashed version of the former, without any added background, commentary or insight. The advocacy group mentioned is more Palestinian than Israeli, and is basically a BDS offshoot.

Tel Aviv Gay Pride Week accused of "pinkwashing" Israeli abuses

http://www.euronews.com/2016/06/03/tel-aviv-gay-pride-week-accused-of-pinkwashing-israeli-abuses/

Tel Aviv Gay Pride: Not a cause for celebration

http://mondoweiss.net/2016/06/pride-cause-celebration/

Pinkwatching Israel

http://www.pinkwatchingisrael.com/

Don’t Pinkwash the Occupation, But Don’t Whitewash Gay Pride Either

http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.722954

So the self flagellation comes from the lunatic far left and not the LGBT community as a whole, what a surprise.

P.s Jingthing, 'Gay Mecca' is a phrase which on reflection sounds as silly as would say a feminist Mecca.

Yes, there are extremist leftists everywhere, and some are Jews, and some are Israeli Jews. As Morch pointed out, the "pinkwashing" accusing Jews are a small minority of Jews and Israeli Jews. The story is much more about JEW-WASHING than pinkwashing.

Most of the organizations mentioned in the links appearing on this topic are not predominantly Israeli or Jewish.

[Jingthing]

@dexterm

Whinging about hijacking events for propaganda purposes only when it suits one's agenda is to be expected. Same goes for complaining about politicization of events, while advocating representation of political views supporting one's position.

The organization linked in the post above, QuAIA, is not an Israeli organization (and I believe defunct now, anyway). Can't find a link to an actual organization named "Israeli Queers Against the Occupation", may wish to exercise greater care when copy pasting from Electronic Intifada "articles" (https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/video-tel-aviv-pride-cant-pinkwash-israels-crimes). The "Israeli activists" cited calling for cancellation of the parade did so because of a somewhat different. more "domestic" agenda:

Gay Activists Call to Cancel Tel Aviv Pride Parade Over State's Preferential Treatment of Tourists

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.714844

To partially quote one of the comments on the YouTube page linked - "The main point is that one can be both proud of Israel's record on gay rights and still be critical of current government policy. One does not obviate the other." Apparently, too complex a concept for some.

You are correct on all that and yes, the QuAIA (Canada, not Israel) is indeed DEFUNCT.

Edited June 5, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

I reckon those of us who have the misfortune not to be LGBT should start to organise a few parades of our own to balance things up. Otherwise, the way things are going, heterosexuals could end up a more endangered species than Thai tigers.

Was that an attempt at humor?

Dude, the places that have had "Straight Pride Parades" have in actuality been nothing of the kind. Instead they were focused on an extremist anti-GLBT hate agenda, including favoring laws to murder all GLBT people.

Have a fun parade if you want, but please no kill the gays ones posing as Straight Pride.

Edited June 5, 2016 by Jingthing

[Thorgal]

Just another PR diversion tactic from the Israeli government. The whole event is sponsored with Israeli government funds. The same government that funds the illegal occupation and settlements in Palestine.

In times that (another) French peace initiative has been planned, a soldier should be tried for murder in exection style, the in-house Knesset political rivalities,...no surprise at all...they did the same in Paris by organizing 'Tel-Aviv Sur-Seine' to focus on PR strategies...instead of all the international law crimes.

Let's not forget that the so called 'Palestinian knife intifada' started 'suddenly' after a solo extremist stabbed multiple LGBT paraders in Jerusalem.

OP is also another attempt to falsely promote freedom of diversity.

Edited June 5, 2016 by Thorgal

[Krataiboy]

I reckon those of us who have the misfortune not to be LGBT should start to organise a few parades of our own to balance things up. Otherwise, the way things are going, heterosexuals could end up a more endangered species than Thai tigers.

I demand the right to being treated equally in law and to be treated the same as everyone else in society - fair enough - yes.

And I want to march down the road with my friends and parade my individuality and my pride in being different - pardon?

I want to be the same and I want to march (with pride) about my difference - huh??

I never got the 'march with pride' khrapp and I guess I never will - whether in Isreal or Gaza - makes no sense to me.

I don't know what country you live in, but if you're in the west, or advanced nations like Israel, etc. you are certainly at liberty to organize political protests or parades for anything you like.

But you know, heterosexual people are the vast majority in every country in the world, so pretty much ANY parade is already a heterosexual parade.

The historical original of the Gay Pride parade movement was in reaction to the police raids on the Stonewall Inn in New York. The first pride parades were all about resisting social oppression and anti gay laws. This tradition continues in many nations today where GLBT people are still severely oppressed by their societies. Somehow I don't think heterosexual people have those kinds of issues in any nation.

Point taken. My remarks were somewhat tongue in cheek - my tongue, of course, and definitely nobody else's cheek.

[Morch]

Just another PR diversion tactic from the Israeli government. The whole event is sponsored with Israeli government funds. The same government that funds the illegal occupation and settlements in Palestine.

In times that (another) French peace initiative has been planned, a soldier should be tried for murder in exection style, the in-house Knesset political rivalities,...no surprise at all...they did the same in Paris by organizing 'Tel-Aviv Sur-Seine' to focus on PR strategies...instead of all the international law crimes.

Let's not forget that the so called 'Palestinian knife intifada' started 'suddenly' after a solo extremist stabbed multiple LGBT paraders in Jerusalem.

OP is also another attempt to falsely promote freedom of diversity.

The OP is a PR attempt to misrepresent facts. The reality being a mass event, the alternative version giving center stage and highlighting minor dissenting views.

And obviously, no issues with posting nonsense diversions as well - the event was declared before the French peace initiative was on the cards. It is an annual event, whereas the French effort was an ad hoc one. Same goes for tying the event with current domestic political rivalries - event had nothing to do with these.

And let us not forget another nonsense attempt to hint at conspiracy - implying a connection between the stabbing at the Jerusalem LGBT parade and the "Palestinian knife intifada". Just to put "suddenly" in perspective, the former was July 2015, the beginning of the current wave of Palestinian violence usually references September 2015. As far as I am aware, no credible interpretation ties between the two.

[Jingthing]

Indeed, the Tel Aviv pride parade is annual event going for many years now. Since 1998. It's part of the INTERNATIONAL gay pride parade and event movement. Like I said started in New York in response to Stonewall.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Aviv_Pride

Tel Aviv Pride (Hebrew: גאווה תל אביבית) is an annual, week-long series of events in Tel Aviv that celebrate Israel's LGBT community life, scheduled during the second week of June, as part of the international observance of Gay Pride Month. The most-attended event is Pride Parade which is the largest in Asia

The Tel Aviv pride events have become one of the biggest gay tourist draws in the world for such events for obvious reasons of the attractiveness of that city and it's vibrant life including gay life.

Jerusalem is of course more of a religious than secular city so such events there are going to be smaller and subject to more controversy. This is an international pattern. In some cities, it's all party, in others, the parade participants need body guards to protect them.

Maybe someday a Gay Pride parade in Tehran? Not soon ... but you never know.

Most but not all are in JUNE:

http://gaytravel.about.com/od/gaypridefestivals/qt/GayPride_June.htm

Edited June 5, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Just another PR diversion tactic from the Israeli government. The whole event is sponsored with Israeli government funds. The same government that funds the illegal occupation and settlements in Palestine.

In times that (another) French peace initiative has been planned, a soldier should be tried for murder in exection style, the in-house Knesset political rivalities,...no surprise at all...they did the same in Paris by organizing 'Tel-Aviv Sur-Seine' to focus on PR strategies...instead of all the international law crimes.

Let's not forget that the so called 'Palestinian knife intifada' started 'suddenly' after a solo extremist stabbed multiple LGBT paraders in Jerusalem.

OP is also another attempt to falsely promote freedom of diversity.

The OP is a PR attempt to misrepresent facts. The reality being a mass event, the alternative version giving center stage and highlighting minor dissenting views.

And obviously, no issues with posting nonsense diversions as well - the event was declared before the French peace initiative was on the cards. It is an annual event, whereas the French effort was an ad hoc one. Same goes for tying the event with current domestic political rivalries - event had nothing to do with these.

And let us not forget another nonsense attempt to hint at conspiracy - implying a connection between the stabbing at the Jerusalem LGBT parade and the "Palestinian knife intifada". Just to put "suddenly" in perspective, the former was July 2015, the beginning of the current wave of Palestinian violence usually references September 2015. As far as I am aware, no credible interpretation ties between the two.

I can understand and support criticisms of Israeli government policies as towards any nation with flaws.

But the Gay Pride events in Tel Aviv are a very positive thing.

Only the obsessive Israel demonization agenda (and also of course general anti-GLBT civil rights forces that hate any Gay Pride events anywhere in the world) would try to throw dirt on it.

To the Israel demonization agenda, if it's in Israel and it's not something that demonizes or shows Israel in a bad light, it's worthy of attack.

The GLBT civil rights situation in Israel which is pretty good benefits not only Israel Jews but Israeli Arabs as well, and there is also the thorny issue of oppressed GLBT Palestinians seeking asylum in Israel, at least as a step in migrating elsewhere.

It's my impression that Israel doesn't treat such asylum seekers very well ... so there's a case of normal criticism.

To add, recently there was the FIRST Miss TRANS Israel pageant and the winner was an Arab trans woman. To the obsessive Israel demonization agenda, that would likely be seen as an elaborate "pinkwashing" conspiracy theory. Never mind what really happened ... the BEST trans woman contestant won regardless of ethnicity.

Frankly, I would hope that the Israel demonization agenda would take a BREAK once in a blue moon. Something like, yeah we hate Israel, don't think it should have ever existed and dream of the day that it doesn't exist, but heck, congratulations on some great Gay Pride events anyway. Talk about a dream!

Edited June 5, 2016 by Jingthing