U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she fears for the future of Israel’s democracy, a comment that has prompted an Israeli backlash. (Reuters)
AFP
via Al Arabiya News
4 December 2011
Israeli ministers reacted angrily on Sunday after local media quoted U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as saying she feared for the future of Israel’s democracy and the rights of women in the Jewish state.
Clinton’s remarks, reportedly made Saturday behind closed doors at the Saban Forum in Washington, made headlines in most Israeli newspapers, which reported them without explaining how they obtained the comments.
Top-selling Yediot Aharonot said Clinton had expressed concern about a slew of “anti-democratic” bills proposed by right-wing members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
And the newspaper said Clinton had described shock at hearing that some buses in Jerusalem were gender segregated and some religious Israeli soldiers refused to attend events where women would sing.
The comments sparked a quick backlash in Jerusalem, where Israeli ministers holding a weekly cabinet meeting accused Clinton of hyperbole.
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz called Clinton’s remarks “totally exaggerated,” Israeli media reported.
“Israel is a living, breathing liberal democracy,” he said.
Steinitz reportedly acknowledged that gender segregation was a problem in Israel, “but to claim there is a threat on Israeli democracy is a big stretch.”
Environment Minister Gilad Erdan also acknowledged some concerns about growing calls for gender segregation by Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community, but suggested Clinton direct her attention elsewhere.
“Elected officials all over the world should first worry about their problems at home,” he said…
The article continues at Al Arabiya News.
Her name is Karen Harrington.
She’s running for Congress here in South Florida…
