What a surprise. Israeli Arabs are condemning a conference for Palestinian lesbians planned to be held in Haifa at the end of the month. Israel's Islamic Movement issued a statement declaring, "We must not let this fatal cancer spread in our community." They make Peter Pace look like Elton John. Call me crazy, but little things like this ought to play some role in determining how we, as individuals and as a country, decide with whom we sympathize in foreign affairs. For example, the fact that Robert Mugabe has his thugs beat his political opponent's skull places me firmly on the side of those fighting for democracy and the rule of law in that country. But Mugabe is an easy target. Granted, the Israeli-Arab conflict has more shades of gray than Zimbabwe, but the fact that the Palestinians torture and murder gays, call homosexuality a "cancer," and popularly elect into power a party that calls for the general elimination of homosexuals, is but one of many reasons that people purporting to believe in liberal values should sympathize with Israel and what it stands for. Sure, Israel has its fair share of homophobic bigots (in parliament, too), but homosexuals are protected by law. There's a reason why Palestinian gays flee their homes for Tel Aviv. Funny how a conference for Palestinian lesbians is being held not in Palestine, but in Haifa, Israel, a place that the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission deems so awful a place that they boycotted last year's World Pride. --James Kirchick