Pinkwashing
There are many lies spread about Israel. One way that detractors demonize Israel is to dismiss or disparage any positive action the country takes by painting it as a nefarious distraction from the plight of the Palestinians. In the case of “pinkwashing,” these figures claim that Israel’s record of LGBT rights is nothing more than a political ploy, and urge the LGBT community to instead stand with the Palestinian cause.
"Pinkwashing" advocates assert that Israel promotes its pro-LGBT stance to hide alleged crimes against Palestinians. In reality, this is a distraction. In 2016, Hamas executed a prominent commander because he was accused of having sex with a male partner. If you are gay in Gaza, you face prison for up to 10 years. In the West Bank, you can face torture and social stigma. As a result, many LGBT youth flee to Israel, even if it means living under house arrest.
"Homosexuality involves a filthy place and does not generate offspring. Homosexuality leads to the destruction of the homosexual. That is why, brothers, homosexuality carries the death penalty." (Mohammad Rateb Al Nebulsi, Syrian Academic on a Hamas TV Network)
The pinkwashing claim attempts to steer the conversation to Israel instead of many Arab countries' records on LGBT rights.
