A U.S. State Department report on religious freedom is drawing sharp criticism from Orthodox Jewish groups over its portrayal of Israel.
The groups are denouncing what they call the unfair and biased criticism of Israel in the annual International Religious Freedom Report. Released last month, the report evaluates the levels of religious freedom in countries throughout the world...
While the 2009 report credits [Israel] for supporting “the generally free practice of religion,” it does take issue with Israel’s treatment of non-Jews and non-Orthodox Jews.
The report cites the Israeli government’s recognition only of Orthodox authorities in certain civil matters, its refusal to allow interfaith marriages [and numerous other aspects]...
...The past few reports have similarly scrutinized Israel’s reliance on Orthodox Judaism as a religious compass, but this year’s analysis devotes more space to the matter and appears harsher, explicitly asserting that Israel "discriminates." Full story
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