The attorney general of Israel ruled last week that gay couples will be allowed to jointly adopt children that are not biologically linked to either partner. Menachem Mazuz announced that there was no legal basis for differing treatment of gay couples to straight couples.
Meanwhile, is there any doubt about how, in a future Palestinian state, gays will be treated? If not subject to execution as in Iran, they'll certainly be subject to arrest, as in Egypt. (Awhile back, Paul Varnell wrote about the persecution of gays by the Palestinian Authority, as did Jamie Kirchick.)
But try telling that to San Francisco-based QUIT! (Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism). Or, for that matter, to those Methodists and Presbyterians who urge divestment from corporations doing business in Israel — a stance that joins old-time Christian anti-Semitism with progressive scape-goating of the Jewish state (and yes, I'm sure some of their very best friends in the anti-globalization league are from families of the Hebrew persuasion).
One hopeful sign: Gay Middle Eastern bloggers in countries including Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain and Morocco are risking their liberty and lives to speak out.