It is curious that the progressive Left and prominent feminists are so quiet about the “patriarchy” in the Palestinian leadership.
Here is a photo of the Palestinian Authority cabinet meeting this week where the honor killing of Israa Gharib was briefly discussed.
Lots of white men – and one token woman – are visible.
And what statement was made in this cabinet meeting about Israa?
That the investigation into her death is still ongoing.
That was it – no condemnation, no expressions of outrage.
Separately, Palestinian Authority prime minister Mohamed Shtayyeh issued a bland statement about Gharib’s death that proved that women are not considered full members of Palestinian society:
Israa Gharib has become a community issue, and we feel the pulse of the street towards this issue.
With our full commitment to the provisions of Palestinian law and the confidentiality of the investigation and not to rush to prejudge the outcome in respect of the spirit of the deceased and the feelings of their families, we must strengthen the system of legislation protecting Palestinian women, the protector of our national project, who are our mothers and sisters and our partners in the struggle and building society, and without her we would not be a society.
With our deep belief that no person has the right to take the law in his own hands, we will take every necessary legal action to give maximum penalties to anyone involved in the killing of any human being and we are waiting for the results of the investigation into Israa’s case.
Notice that he didn’t condemn Gharib’s death.
Even in this statement, meant to be as liberal as possible, women are not considered an integral part of Palestinian society. They are sisters and mothers, but not leaders in their own right. They are important “partners” with the men who really run things. This statement shows how women are second class citizens and how this is accepted as perfectly normal. (None of the responses to this statement on Facebook were critical of its unconscious sexism, as far as I can tell.)
The prime minister of “Palestine” issued a sexist statement. But the people who are most sensitive to and vocal about sexism in the West remain utterly silent about it and other endemic Palestinian sexism.
Similarly, this week a 2016 survey of worldwide racist attitudes was re-publicized, and “Palestine” was rated the eighth most racist country in the world, based on how Palestinians answered a question about whether they would accept having neighbors of a different race than they were. Yet when was the last time you read an article about Palestinian racism?
Why is the progressive Left so tolerant of Palestinian sexism and racism? They will be publicly critical (if somewhat muted) of sexism in Saudi Arabia and Iran and Egypt, but Palestinian sexism and racism gets a pass. Why?
The only reason is because their hate for Israel outweighs their hate for sexism and racism.
Palestinian hate for Israel and Jews is deemed so critical and essential by these so-called progressives that everything that violates the most cherished liberal ideals is swept under the rug, excused and justified.
Even when forced to make a statement about Israa Gharib, they feel compelled to criticize Israel, because Palestinians have no responsibility for their actions and anything bad they do – including wife beating – is Israel’s fault, always.
Palestinian women have been let down by the people who pretend to care most about them. The hypocrisy of the “progressives” remains off the charts.
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