The unprecedented edict issued by Ayatollah Khomeini for the execution of novelist Salman Rushdie in 1989 has become commonplace. The right of Westerners to criticize or ridicule Islam and Muslims has eroded in the intervening years, and the defining question is whether Westerners will maintain their own historic civilization in the face of an assault by Islamists.
This article argues, based primarily upon news reports, that for all the rhetoric about Israel's "viscious" & "brutal" occupation, Palestinians are aware of the benefits of its liberal democracy, & would prefer Israeli rule to a corrupt Palestinian rule. Moreover, it is argued that from among the opinion of Palestinians, there is a wide body of pro-Israeli sentiments from which to draw. It is suggested that this undercurrent of Palestinian love of Zion has hopeful & potentially significant implications. The present article explores two categories of pro-Israel expressions: preferring to remain under Israel rule, & praising Israel as better than Arab regimes. Voices from Gaza & from many countries are heard: Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, & the United States among them. Israeli society, it is argued, is seen as superior to Arab regimes on several fronts: restraints on violence; freedom of expression; democracy; rule of law; protection of minorities; economic benefits; & tolerance of homosexuals. Each of these areas of advantage is discussed briefly. The percentage of Palestinians who would prefer to live under Israeli control is estimated at 70 to 90 percent. 4 Illustrations. T.K. Brown
Overview of American-born and immigrant characteristics, including demography, reasons for immigrating, religious practices, intra-group tensions, and role of religious institutions; some focus on implications for the US of the spread of Islamism in the community.
