"Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and Cyprus are the only countries in the Middle East where homosexuality between consenting adults in private is not illegal and homosexuals are not persecuted under law. In most other Middle Eastern countries homosexuality is illegal, often punishable by flogging and even hanging. Until 2007, Israel had also been the only country in Asia where homosexuals were protected by anti-discrimination laws. Israel remains the only one in the Middle East with such laws. Out has named Tel Aviv \"the gay capital of the Middle East.\""@en . . . . . . . "Rights in Israel"@en . . . "Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and Cyprus are the only countries in the Middle East where homosexuality between consenting adults in private is not illegal and homosexuals are not persecuted under law. In most other Middle Eastern countries homosexuality is illegal, often punishable by flogging and even hanging. Until 2007, Israel had also been the only country in Asia where homosexuals were protected by anti-discrimination laws. Israel remains the only one in the Middle East with such laws. Out has named Tel Aviv \"the gay capital of the Middle East.\""@en . .