Here at the University of Texas, a Jewish student group called Hillel holds a massive “Israel Block Party” every year celebrating all things Israel. Which is fine, except that there’s a lot of oppression that gets swept under the rug during the party, as with most nationalist celebrations. The organizers portray Israel as a thriving and diverse liberal democracy, and it is in some aspects. But then they go too far – every year that I attended the party with pro-Palestine protesters I saw the slogan “Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.” Not true. Israel doesn’t rank all that high in ensuring freedom for the press, either, according to a new report by Reporters Sans Frontieres. Via the Heathlander.