Kumars, You may be right that Jews feel threatened when people bash on Israel because of some mighty power structure that we all unknowingly answer to, but I would like to point out that I too, as a Jew, feel offended when people too harshly judge Israel. And I am not even pro-Israel. So, at least this time, I must agree with Jono. Perhaps it is wrong when I feel that those who are radically anti-Israel are also anti-Semitic, but if that is how I feel, then don't you have to respect that to some degree? Just like we respect the Native Americans who feel offended by the chief. When something you are saying is bothering someone, then shouldn't you not say it, or at least change the way you say it so that it doesn't hurt them? I would love to have a civil conversation about the Palestine-Israeli conflict, but I don't want to do it if the person I am talking to just spends the whole time hurling insults at Israel, and isn't willing to see the other side. Because no matter how much I disagree with Israel and think it is doing awful things, I am connected to it. I try really hard to stay in the middle of this fight and see both sides. But when people make assertions that Israel is an evil country, I can't help but jump to its defense. Perhaps I am not as moderate as I think. But, when the goal is peace, and maybe I am being too optimistic in thinking that is the true goal, then the hatred towards either side that permeates this comment thread is never going to solve the problem, nor is laying blame.