Israel is not a tolerant society: US State Department

Israel drastically fails to meet all requirements of a tolerant pluralistic society, according to a US State Department report issued on Saturday.

The report, written by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, indicates that Israel is discriminating against Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christians, women, Bedouins, and even Reform Jews, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Sunday.

Israel does not treat ethnic groups on equal terms and also does not show any respect toward certain holy sites and other historic sites, the document added.

It went on to say that although a 1967 Israeli law calls for the protection of all holy sites in Jerusalem Al-Quds, the Israeli government does not show due respect toward non-Jewish sites and does not even officially recognize non-Jewish sites as holy places.

In addition, as Israel is neglecting several Muslim and Christian holy sites, they are subject to exploitation by Israeli authorities and real estate entrepreneurs, the report noted.