Israel - a bastion of freedom for gays in the Middle East!

I have many criticisms of Israel in its handling in recent years of relations with Palestinians, but one thing is very clear - Israel IS a democracy, warts and all, and is willing to demonstrate in the clearest possible terms its commitment to equality and openness for its homosexual community. The High Court last year insisted that a march through Jerusalem last summer to celebrate Gay Pride should go ahead, despite attempts by the authorities in that city to ban it. Now the Jerusalem District Court has handed down a 12-year jail sentence on an ultra-orthodox Jew, Ishai Schlussel, who stabbed and wounded three of the marchers in the Gay Pride event after having convicted him on a charge of attempted murder. The court also ordered that NIS 280 million (about USD 60 million) be paid as compensation to the victims. Yes!