Any time an Arab politician or candidate says anything, no matter how progressive or antiquated, about the LGBT community, it sparks uproar. Such was the case recently with MK Ahmad Tibi, and then with Meretz candidate Jida Rinawi-Zoabi, who merely said she'd "be considerate of my society's sensibilities when voting on matters pertaining to the LGBT community."
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Rinawi-Zoabi is not an unenlightened homophobe. Similar to other Arab MKs, most of who live secular lifestyles without being anti-religion, she is wary of turning her back on the mostly-conservative public she represents. Even if she identifies and empathizes with demands for tolerance and equality, she knows better than anyone from the Tel Aviv outrage bubble when it's prudent to raise the issue in the society from which she comes.
The lynching she received – and Tibi before her – and the expressions of outrage from opinion leaders on the Jewish left, not only reflect a lack of sensitivity for the complex political-social position of Arab politicians but also help spread a shallow perception of Arab society. The phenomenon is not "denied" in Arab society. Quite the opposite. One of the most prominent Arab poets in history, Abu Nuwas, wrote dozens of stories and poems in which he proudly declared his fondness for men. It's true that hotbeds of conservatism and even homophobia, and sometimes violence, exist within Arab society (similar to Jewish society). But modernization and Israelization haven't left Arab society unaffected. Under the layer of rhetoric put forth by some Arab leaders, quite a few Arabs in Israel live alternative lifestyles openly and proudly, and some have even become well-known and respected figures.
It's not surprising that Arab politicians are embarrassed when forced to address the issue. The expectation gap between their two identity groups – on one hand, Arab society; on the other their political partners on the Left – poses a dilemma for them. If even members of Hadash and Balad – liberals, individual rights campaigners, supporters of separation between religion and state – don't fully come out in support of LGBT equality, it's not because they are hostile to the community, but because they want to exhibit a modicum of consideration for the public that elected them to the Knesset. Yes, they should be expected to lead from the front, not the back, but they are stuck between a rock and a hard place; between the need to take an unequivocal position, particularly in Hebrew, and the need to accommodate the sensibilities of their voters, many of who are conservative and hold such views in relation to religion and family – and who view them as representatives of their minority group.
It's sad that the Left, which espouses pluralism, pushes its Arab partners, who are weaker anyway, into a corner instead of being sensitive and appreciative of the nuances involved. It wouldn't hurt the Jewish Left to learn from the Arab MKs about effecting change while also showing deference to their people.
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