Israel Matzav

Will he officially except Israel?

President Obama issued a memorandum on Tuesday in which he officially made the treatment of gays a criterion in determining how US foreign aid is allocated (Hat Tip: Weasel Zippers).

Obama’s memo, which was followed by a speech in Geneva by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, “will coordinate U.S. government agencies with respect to LGBT issues and make it a component of U.S. foreign policy to decriminalize LGBT status, make it a consideration for foreign aid and coordinate the asylum process for those who are being persecuted,” according to a person familiar with the policy.

In practice, that means funding a lawyers defense group defending LGBT individuals imprisoned for being gay or funding the training of foreign journalists who cover the persecution of members of the community, an administration official said.

“The Obama administration has made a tremendous difference in the lives of LGBT people in the United States, and this new strategy helps to extend that presidential leadership across the globe,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, who met with Clinton on Tuesday in Geneva.

The presidential memorandum is the first U.S. government strategy to deal with human rights abuses against LGBT people abroad, the group said — and it represents another White House outreach effort to a core Democratic constituency.

The measure directs all government agencies that engage in foreign affairs to promote LGBT human rights globally — including decriminalization of LGBT people and humane treatment of LGBT refugees and those seeking asylum, among other issues, the group reported in a statement on the policy shift.

So what's he going to do between Israel and the 'Palestinians'? Will he make Israel an exception so that he can ignore the 'Palestinians' horrendous record on gay rights? Or will he finally admit that yes, Israel is a humane society more like the United States than anyplace else in the Middle East?

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, gay Palestinians, Hillary Clinton

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:59 AM