Gays in the armed forces: Israelis say ‘no problem’

Israel, like the United States, is a largely secular society with
deep religious roots. And Israel, like the U.S., is home to vocal
religious conservatives who frown on homosexuality. But Israel, unlike
the U.S., has allowed gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military
for 17 years. In fact, they are required to do so. If Israel has found a
way to allow gays in the military, can it provide lessons to the U.S.
as it struggles with whether—and how—to dismantle the "don't ask/don't
tell" policy?

Perhaps. But like everything in Israel, it's a bit more complicated. And the comparison between the U.S. and Israel is inexact.

By
most accounts, Israel's integration of gays into the military has
succeeded, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has reportedly begun to
share its experiences with the U.S. military.