This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/world/middleeast/attack-on-gay-pride-parade-shakes-israels-self-image-as-bastion-of-tolerance.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Attack on Gay Pride Parade Shakes Israel’s Self-Image as Bastion of Tolerance Attack on Gay Pride Parade Shakes Israel’s Self-Image as Bastion of Tolerance
(about 11 hours later)
As the news spread online that an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man had stabbed six people at Jerusalem’s annual Gay Pride Parade on Thursday, accompanied by terrifying images of the attack, critics of Israel were quick to argue that the rampage undermined the country’s self-image as a bastion of tolerance in the region.As the news spread online that an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man had stabbed six people at Jerusalem’s annual Gay Pride Parade on Thursday, accompanied by terrifying images of the attack, critics of Israel were quick to argue that the rampage undermined the country’s self-image as a bastion of tolerance in the region.
Although the episode was condemned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jerusalem’s mayor, Nir Barkat, the officials were accused of hypocrisy on social networks.Although the episode was condemned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jerusalem’s mayor, Nir Barkat, the officials were accused of hypocrisy on social networks.
Some observers suggested that the Jewish attacker, identified as Yishai Schlissel, a fundamentalist who committed the same kind of attack during the same event 10 years ago, was treated far more leniently than a Muslim extremist would have been. Some observers suggested that the Jewish attacker, identified as Yishai Schlissel, a fundamentalist who committed the same kind of attack during the same event 10 years ago, was treated far more leniently than a religiously motivated Muslim extremist would have been.
The Palestinian-American writer and activist Ali Abunimah has derided as “pinkwashing” Israeli efforts “to build up support for Israel among Western liberals and progressives” by drawing attention to the nation’s policies on gay rights. “Pinkwashing,” in Mr. Abunimah’s definition, “is a rhetorical strategy that deploys Israel’s supposed enlightenment toward LGBTQ issues to deflect criticism from Israel’s human rights abuses and war crimes.”The Palestinian-American writer and activist Ali Abunimah has derided as “pinkwashing” Israeli efforts “to build up support for Israel among Western liberals and progressives” by drawing attention to the nation’s policies on gay rights. “Pinkwashing,” in Mr. Abunimah’s definition, “is a rhetorical strategy that deploys Israel’s supposed enlightenment toward LGBTQ issues to deflect criticism from Israel’s human rights abuses and war crimes.”
The term was invoked in relation to the attack on Thursday by Pauline Park, a transgender activist who supports the Palestinian cause.The term was invoked in relation to the attack on Thursday by Pauline Park, a transgender activist who supports the Palestinian cause.
As recently as last month, Israel’s foreign ministry last month criticized foreign reporters for their supposed blindness to the plight of gay Palestinians in Gaza, in an animated video mocking international coverage of the conflict.
Attempts by Israelis to use support for gay rights as a cudgel against Palestinian groups have misfired at times. In 2011, a gay Israeli man who claimed to have been discriminated against by pro-Palestinian activists was exposed as an actor after his false testimony had been shared online by government officials.Attempts by Israelis to use support for gay rights as a cudgel against Palestinian groups have misfired at times. In 2011, a gay Israeli man who claimed to have been discriminated against by pro-Palestinian activists was exposed as an actor after his false testimony had been shared online by government officials.
After Thursday’s attack, whose suspect is a religious fundamentalist from a Jewish-only settlement built on West Bank land Israel has occupied since 1967, Mr. Abunimah seconded the observation of a Canadian activist who speculated that Israel’s military would have destroyed Mr. Schlissel’s home had he been a Palestinian.After Thursday’s attack, whose suspect is a religious fundamentalist from a Jewish-only settlement built on West Bank land Israel has occupied since 1967, Mr. Abunimah seconded the observation of a Canadian activist who speculated that Israel’s military would have destroyed Mr. Schlissel’s home had he been a Palestinian.
Uri Blau, an Israeli journalist, reported on his blog that the suspect, who was not on the radar of the police despite having been released from jail just weeks ago for a knife attack on the parade in 2005, had even distributed a manifesto calling for violence to prevent the “blasphemous” event.Uri Blau, an Israeli journalist, reported on his blog that the suspect, who was not on the radar of the police despite having been released from jail just weeks ago for a knife attack on the parade in 2005, had even distributed a manifesto calling for violence to prevent the “blasphemous” event.
According to Mr. Blau, the attack was also praised on the Facebook page of Lehava, a Jewish extremist group that had demonstrated against the celebration as “an abomination” contrary to Scripture. According to Mr. Blau, the attack was also praised in comments posted on the Facebook page of Lehava, a Jewish extremist group that had demonstrated against the celebration as “an abomination” contrary to Scripture.
Late Thursday, Benzion Gopstein, the leader of Lehava — which has attempted to stop Jews from marrying Muslims — issued a statement condemning the authorities for allowing the “provocative” parade to take place but clarifying that his group is “against stabbing Jews.”Late Thursday, Benzion Gopstein, the leader of Lehava — which has attempted to stop Jews from marrying Muslims — issued a statement condemning the authorities for allowing the “provocative” parade to take place but clarifying that his group is “against stabbing Jews.”