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You should not paint all countries in the Middle East with the same brush.

How many Middle Eastern countries (besides Israel) have anything resembling democracy, or equal rights for women, or any rights for gay people?

Israel is lacking in such rights as well. It's not exactly a shining example for the rest of the Middle East.

Implying there are many Middle East countries that have better record on woman or gay rights, for example, than Israel? Care to name a few?

Israel has its problems, but compared to the rest of the ME, it is a shining example.

Turkey