In the wake of a number of awful incidents by ultra-orthodox extremists, the Prime Minister of the only Democracy in the Middle East, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opened a cabinet meeting by saying: “Israel is a Western liberal democracy and as such its public space is open and safe for all, men and women. There is no place in [Israel] for discrimination. The police will continue to arrest all those who spit, raise their hand, and harass.”
Similarly, on Israel Army radio the military's highest ranking rabbi Brig. Gen. Rafi Peretz, said: "The spirit of Jewish law does not allow discrimination or violation of women in any circumstance and on any grounds.” Israel is the only country in the region to permit women to enter the army.
Its been made quite clear by the political and religious leadership of Israel that nearly the entire Jewish people stands against these tiny handful of sick individuals. Even within the ultra-Orthodox community, these people are shunned and reviled. From the sickening activities of a handful of ultra-orthodox extremists in Bet Shemesh to screaming “whores” at Jewish women walking, boarding buses and anywhere else – its simply awful, repulsive disgusting behavior.
Owning a crisis PR firm, I am upset at the news coverage surrounding these so-called “religious” disputes. The international media targets Israel in a critical manner on these issues, similar to how it covers alleged Israeli human rights violations against the Arabs and these relatively small disputes of extremists, while neglecting to cover the constant violations and fact of life treatment women face daily in almost every Arab country.
Is Israel’s blessing as the sole democracy in the Middle East a reason for this warped media coverage? Or is it a continued double standard and Anti-Semitic approach to the Jewish people and state of Israel ?
Let’s take a look at some of the headlines: “Religious limits on women roil Israel” (Washington Post), “Taking stand for Jewish women took far too long” (USA TODAY), and “Extremist Jews prevent women from voting in Israel” (Associated Press). None of these headlines are remotely accurate – Israel is incensed at the actions of a handful of crazies, nearly the whole country is standing up for the women, and it’s doubtful that even one woman was prevented from voting. Furthermore, the media fails to mention the fact that the incident occurred just moments after the Mayor of Jerusalem left the station after speaking out against gender discrimination.
One would agree that the religious conflict in Israel merits media coverage – but surely not the mountains and mountains of press coverage versus the lack of media on similar issues upon our Arab brethren bordering Israel. And the fundamental difference between the conflicts are immense: in Israel, it is “extremists” against the government; in Arab countries, it’s the policy and the law against the women.
Why does the media neglect to cover the tribulations of Saudi Arabian women, where they are required to have a guardian, and need their guardian's permission for marriage and divorce; travel, if under 45; education; employment; opening a bank account; and that they can't drive or vote ?
I didn’t see an AP headline that focused on the fact that Saudi women cant vote, but I did see an AP headline on Israel and women voters. Even the recent protests by hundreds of women in Egypt – in which 13 people were killed and Egyptian soldiers beat and stripped women protesters -- didn’t receive the same amount of media coverage as Israel has. And those of us who follow the issue know that the soldiers and police in Israel are protecting those being harassed by extremists, not beating and stripping them.
It's nearly impossible to find an article in mainstream Western media regarding the fact that the (new) Libyan National Transitional Council chief pledged to uphold Islamic law and ease polygamy rules, yet the Washington Post has no qualms about running headlines on “religious limits on women in Israel”. Of course, these latest articles neglect to mention the laws that restrict women's rights in almost all Arab countries. Perhaps there are no headlines because in most Arab countries, the Shari'a (Islamic law) defines the laws, and women are accorded a role inferior to that of men. No news in that.
The bottom line is that while the activities and behaviors of these extremists in Israel is awful, in nearly every part of the Arab world, women would be thrilled to be treated as the extremists in Bet Shemesh are treating the women there.
Yelling at them and spitting upon them would be a dream compared to the current treatment Arab women face.
It is incumbent upon the Public Relations machine of the Jewish people to do all we can to challenge the media for their continued double standard on all issues surrounding Jews and Israel.