Israelis Observe Ramadan

This is absolutely nuts. Being nice to people who, arguably, seek to drown you in the Mediterranean Sea has to be akin to suicide.

With the Monday morning start of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, Israeli forces gave directives to soldiers manning 470 checkpoints in the west Bank to avoid eating in front of Palestinian citizens when they pass through checkpoints.

The directives also instructed soldiers to avoid smoking and drinking in front of Palestinians as a sign of respect for those who fast as a religious act.

Politeness and common courtesy is one thing, but being told to roll over for Islam throughout the community is something entirely different. The next step would be to order everyone to stop and pray to Allah five times daily as a sign of respect for those who pray as a religious act.

If, however, an individual chooses to modify his/her personal behavior to comply with Islamic requirements, that's fine. But, government directives, as the Israelis have issued, should never mandate the dhimmitude.