Mq, talking about Israeli "anti-miscegenation" laws is silly; there is nothing racial in these laws. You can't find a more racially mixed society than Israel, and the Palestinians are not far behind. It has to do with religion, and the control of the Orthodox establishment over the practice of Judaism in Israel, much to the disgust of the 85% of Israeli Jews who are "secular".
For various historical reasons, the original Labor founders conceded this control, and the Orthodox have been expert at making themselves into essential swing votes to keep the control. Actually, this expertise just failed them at the last elections, but their power is well established and can only be lessened gradually. And the government of Israel has other matters on its hands right now, or this would be a MUCH bigger issue in Israeli politics.
So the practical effect is that the "secular" Israelis demand workarounds for the stuff that really matters to them, like having the State recognize civil marriages done in Cyprus (about a half an hour trip from Tel Aviv). Which is why all the howls of certain parties saying, "see, they have to LEAVE THE COUNTRY! That proves Israel is a Jewish Fundamentalist state just as bad as Saudi Arabia!" are silly too.
Interesting scriptural analysis you have there, btw. Anything of worth found in scripture - like "do not steal" -is declared "social" and therefore not scriptual; the rest is "religious" and by definition worthless - have I got the method down? |
