Civil Liberties And Human Rights In Israel

Israelis enjoy the same civil liberties and human rights as citizens of America and other advanced, western-style democracies. The right to vote is universal. Israel has more political parties there were 19 in 2004 than most other parliamentary democracies. They range from extreme left to extreme right and from religious to secular. Israel also has one of the freest media in the world and is famous for its self-criticism and blistering debates.

Israeli women and minorities are protected by laws that in some cases are more progressive than those of other democracies. There is legal protection against religious persecution. Gays are protected against discrimination and hate crimes. Professor Uzi Even, an openly gay man, became a Knesset member in 2002. Education is encouraged equally for both men and women. Forty-five percent of women are in the workforce, the same percentage as in the U.S. Women have reproductive rights. Israel is the only Middle Eastern country that allows women to travel freely without a male guardians permission. Israel treats honor killings as harshly as other murder crimes.

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