A Familiar Story

From an AP story dated October 4, though it has not seen a lot of attention in the American media, comes this report:

In recent weeks, self-styled "modesty patrols" have been accused of breaking into the apartment of a ... woman and beating her for allegedly consorting with men. They have torched a store that sells MP4 players, fearing devout ... would use them to download pornography.

The story also details how gangs would throw rocks at women and spit at them for wearing red clothes because that color is considered particularly provocative. And, how gangs broke into a store, scattered gasoline around and set it on fire because it sold clothes they considered immodest.

We are familiar with stories like these in Muslim countries. We almost expect them in those countries. These incidents took place in Israel, just outside of Jerusalem. The gangs were composed of Haredim - the very, very, conservative Jews.

This is in addition to other stories from Israel about Jewish settlers from the West Bank communities, which are considered illegal by the international community, setting off pipe bombs to threaten Israeli legislators who have voted to dismantle the illegal settlements.

Religious zealots of every stripe share far more characteristics - as in hatred, intolerance, and self-righteousness - than they would admit.