Now this is the kind of heartwarming story I just love to hear about: Israel has granted a residency permit to a homosexual Palestinian man who said that his sexuality placed his life at risk.

Ah yes, remind us again how tolerant and civilized Israeli society is!

“In this case the man’s lawyer said his life was in danger because of his sexual preference,” said Peter Lerner, spokesman for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, whose office comes under the defense establishment.

“On this basis we issued the temporary permit,” he said.

Of course, the article fails to mention the 2006 ruling by the High Court of Israel, effectively banning heterosexual marriages between Israeli and Palestinian couples by forbidding their right to live in Israel. Moreover, such couples are also unable to live in the occupied West Bank, from which Israeli citizens are forbidden under military dictates.

But granting a temporary residence permit to this homosexual Palestinian is fodder for a sympathetic media. How nice Israel is! How mean the Palestinians are!

Speaking of Israel’s extreme generosity, it would also be rude to mention the Shin Bet’s practice of seeking out homosexual Palestinians for use as collaborators under threat of being forced out of the closet. This is Zionism.