Middle East Focus: Is Jerusalem Going Wahhabi?

Arabia Deserta

Is Jerusalem Going Wahhabi?

“Chief Rabbi of Israeli Army: ‘we don’t want girls in the army’. Jewish extremists resort to violence to prevent the opening of a parking lot in Jerusalem on Saturday. The religious-secular struggle is intense in Israel…Israeli society generally is liberal and sensitive to issues like women’s rights..and it did not welcome the statement of the army chief rabbi…Imagine a Saudi-style system: every female Israeli soldier will have a mahram, a close male relative (only father, brother, uncle, and husband qualify) running alongside her as she trains in the middle of the men….As well as military religious police making sure there is no direct contact, no assignations, and no furtive messages passed……

“In the secular Israeli society, secularists are escaping Jerusalem, which becoming more and more a fundamentalist city…. They are escaping to secular Tel Aviv…..”Aafaq

Bearded Muttawa’een in Jerusalem? Things must be getting really hairy over there. But at least they have Tel Aviv, which is reputed to be more fun- at least this is the message from Adam Sandler. There is no Tel Aviv in Saudi Arabia, though. They have to drive or fly to Dubai. There is still Bahrain to get the wine and the women, and to just walk with your wife without being arrested…but it is gradually changing too; but it is not influenced by the Israeli fundamentalists… the winds of restrictions are blowing from the west.
Cheers
mhg
Mon Email