Palestinian rights
Reader comment on item: Pro-Israel Palestinians

Submitted by Octavio Johanson (Italy), May 10, 2005 at 10:23

I am very happy that Daniel Pipes has written this article. As a non-Jew and as a non-Zionist, what fascinates me is that there are minorities within the Palestinian population who benefit from Israeli rule.

Minorities within the Palestinian population certainly benefit from Israeli rule. Non-Muslim Palestinians certainly enjoy a degree of respect which does not exist in neighbouring Jordan and Egypt. Churches, Mosques and Synagogues are all tolerated in Israel. Amongst the Palestinian population, there are Catholics as well as other denominations.


Human rights are also important, because they are guaranteed by the Israelis. Unless you work for Hamas, Israeli law will give you equal protection whether you are Muslim, Catholic, Jewsih or any other religion you might belong to.

The, yes, you have got elections. Was the president of Syria chosen with an election?

The rule of law. As I understand it, nobody is above the law.

Ging back to my point: Palestinians Arabs who live under Israeli occupation (not really an occupation), enjoy great freedom and protection from the law.

A Palestinian Arab can defend himself/herself in front of an israeli court and enjoy the benefits of an accountable judiciary.

There are accountability systems which bind the judiciary and the police. The Israeli army is also accountable to the law, which is more than I can say for any Arab nation.

Pluralism is the official form of government and every point of view is represented. The Israeli Parliament makes room for all sorts of view-points and political parties, which, again, is more than I can say for any Arab nation.

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