Just because he grew up in an "anti-Semitic" environment amongst muslims and Pakistanis in particular it doesn't mean that everyone in the UK is "poisoned" against Israel by the media. Israel doesn't always receive approval in the media because of the government's actions, and that is nothing to do with Judaism or antisemitism. These concepts should be separated. Just look at some talkbacks in the Daily Mail in articles about Israel. When the peace process gets back on track there will be a lot of praise for Israel in the UK media. Count on it.

which poison's people's attitudes towards Israel. And it is not helped by so called defenders of Israel denying that Palestinians even have a right to exist. The fact is many incidents such as the bombing of Gaza on Saturday night by Israel are not even reported in the media.

It reminds me of a story the head rabbi of Poland Schudrin (sp?) was pushing a few years ago about a young Polish couple who were neo-Nazis. After they had discovered they were in fact Jewish, they dropped the swastika, donned a yarmulke, and rushed to a local synagogue. Schudrin probably did not realize that his story was downright antisemitic. It made as little sense to me as this story does. To begin with, nobody could possibly be turned Zionist by reading Dershowitz's writings. This story could make some sense if the Pakistani guy turned Zionist in order to upset his parents. That's what rebellious children do. The epiphany induced by Dershowitz is unlikely.

Criticism should not be confused with the regular demonization of Israel in the UK press. There are of course good people in the UK but it is simply dishonest to ignore the massive anti-Israel bigotry in UK society.

UK will soon dissapear !. Ezekiel 38 6 Gomer and all his bands; Compare the Gaelic/Keltic Name of Wales in the UK, Gumru or Cumru. UK will be Destroyed by Civil War. Arn.Sweden.

- but still the Article is fitting at least Sweden. Arn.

As sure as night follows day you know there will be an Israeli, or alleged Israel coming onto the Talkbacks and arguing that those who hate Israel have good reason. MIke--you are living in a fantasy world of your own making. They hate the Jews, they will always hate the Jews and the media will feed this. Listen to some of the statements made by the media and by Muslims. Look at the PA's map of Palestine. Please take you head out of the sand before the sand is kilometers West of the Mediterranean shore.

You're in a dream world mate. The objectivity ship sailed around the time Oslo ballsed up. There is a massive PR effort behind "Freeing Palestine" and little of note for Israel.

Hafeez is much closer to the situation than you are, Mike, and his thinking is clearer than yours. Your first paragraph bears no relation to what is in the report. Anti-Israel reporting may refer to Israel government action, but the unremitting focus on Israel while all but ignoring injustice elsewhere - Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Iraq, Tibet and China, for instance, shows that the reporting is, at the very least discriminatory. Also ignored is the Palestinian authorities' anti-Israel and anti-Jewish incitement, even in the educational media, along with its apartheid-style land law and glorification of terrorism. People don't even know that the peace process being off-track is due to the Palestinians' consistent refusal to accept very generous deals or even negotiate meaningfully. With the space that the left-leaning media (BBC, Guardian, Independent) give to editorial contributions whose contributors are known for their own anti-semitic views and whose followers make theirs quite clear, there is no doubt that anti-semitic discourse is given increasing exposure here. The Daily Mail has plenty of pro-Israel talkbacks and also many that contain barely-disguised antisemitism. It won't be the peace process getting back on track that will provoke more praise for Israel there. It will be Israel's enemies showing the world what they are made of in the impossible to ignore conflict in Syria.

And what "occupation" are you talking about? Occupation according to International Law means that State A has conquered State B as a result of war. No "Palestinian" state existed in 1967, 1949, 1948, 1947, or 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10.000 or 100.000 years ago. You use the invented "Palestinian" people as an excuse to hate and destroy Israel. You care nothing for the "Palestinians". 1) Why is "Palestine" a Roman/Latin name? 2) Why is there no letter "p" in Arabic? 3) Nationalism is alien to Arabs who have, for 1400 years, lived as nomads and Beduins in multi-ethnic and multi-racial "Arab" empires whose majority population - locals, subjects, soldiers, mercenaries, scientists, mathematicians, physicians and merchants, were no ethnic Arabs, merely Arab speaking Persians, Kurds, Turks, Jews, Berbers and Africans. Why is that? 4) There is no "Palestine" in the Bible or the Koran. Why? 5) The Bible and the Koran BOTH admit that Israel is the Jewish homeland. How come? 6) Jewish/Israelite history started 2000 B.C.E in Israel - 4000 years ago. Arab history of the original Arabians, started in the 7th century C.E. 1400 years ago, in the southwestern corner of the Arabian peninsula, hundreds of kilometers away from Israel, 2600 years AFTER the start of Jewish civilization. How can Arabs be the "natives" of Israel? 7) Most Arabs arrived in Israel as recently as the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. How is that ancient history and how does that make "Palestinians" the "natives"? 8) When and where exactly did a "Palestinian" state, republic, nation state, kingdom, city state, duchy, principality or empire exist in recorded history, what are the names of kings and dynasties, cities, towns, villages and currency and why is there not a single ancient civilization mentioning anywhere any "Palestinian" state, civilization, nation or people?

and borders Your "proletariat"has refused both from day one. Is every Qassam reported? Every death to Israel march?

would you like explained in English? Which part of ALL Palestine is Arab land? Palestinians are part of the Arab race? Do look up the covenant and maps of "moderate" peace partners the PA, then there is Hamas their elected govt. None so blind as he/ she that will not see. Blinded by the dogma of the" intelligencia" and blinded by the Arabs can do no wrong ideology

With the islamic influence mixed with leftist hate for Israel and US, we must add these countries in Europe too, as anti-israel; Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Portugal, Irland, Netherland. No doubt, the hate from the leftist and islamic followers is a burdon upon the countries.

You are delusional if you think it is Israels attitude to Pals, It is the hatred and racism and intolerance of anything non Muslim that the Pals have towards anything or one associated with Israel or Jews . You have the wrong side of the coin lady and you are flogging a dead horse, I dont know where you get your info from or what revisionist crap you read, but if you knew anything about the state of Israel and the Pals then you would recant all the bull you spout. And you have the gall to to mention the firing of a rocket into Israel......and it not being mentioned in the press.......Almost daily towns surrounded by Gaza are attacked by your mates the pals .... inundated i should say, and it is never mentioned in the press...NEVER unless the oh so innocent Pals get some retaliation then the press are quick to jump up and report about the poor Pals...I am sick of the onesided reporting that happens in the UK and NZ alike, What happened to the truth??? I've read the book, and i recommend it and have recommended it. And for once it is great to see that a Muslim man can take up a book and read something other than what he has had shoved down his throat in hatred and bigotry growing up, and question what he has been brainwashed with all of his life! I suggest a few of you anti zionists/Israelis/Jews pick up the book and read it......hell you might learn somthing! oh and no one is questioning the right of Pals to live, Just suggesting they go to Jordan where they came from and belong!

You show the typical ignorance in your comment. Israel's treatment of the Palestinians? Last time I checked west Jerusalem main streets, malls and parks were filled with east Jerusalem Arabs (Palestinians) enjoying themselves very much. Last time I check the Arab citizens of Israel (Palestinians) received all the state stipends, health care and all other state service like any other Jewish citizen. Fact is the Arab Israelis (Palestinians) rather live their land if it becomes under the PA control as long as they stay Israeli citizens. Regarding how Israeli treats Palestinians which are not its citizens - that is the direct result of their behavior towards Israel. If Gazans fire missiles Israeli towns, Israeli strikes Gaza. What the western media reports is Israel's strike, not the Palestinians' terror.

Israel is simply defending herself against Arab aggression which seek Israel's destruction. Israel has been far too soft on the Palis who would should consider themselves lucky that Israel is so civilized because Russia and other countries would have levelled all of Gaza and Ramallah long time ago.

Why have you Israeli's allowed dhimmi Katherine Ashton to be the negotiator in the P5+1 talks ? She is a well known pro-Hamas & pro-muslim sympathizer with ties to radical preachers. She will clearly favor the Ayatollahs. A poisnous rattlesnake would have been preferable. Europe is filled with such types now, more's the pity.

Have you ever heard of the Philistines? Can't you see the resemblance of the word Philistine to Palestine? These people go a long way back. Here is what Wikipedia says about the Philistines: "The Philistines were an Indo-European people who appeared in the southern coastal area of Canaan at the beginning of the Iron Age (circa 1175 BC), most probably from the Aegean region. According to the Bible, they ruled the five city-states (the "Philistine Pentapolis") of Gaza, Askelon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath, from the Wadi Gaza in the south to the Yarqon River in the north......According to historian Jacobsohn and supported by others, is that the name derives from the locality Palaeste, whose inhabitants would have been called Palaestīnī.". So, before you preach people about the nonexistence of Palestinians, check your history! They are as old if not older than the Israelites.

Something is very wrong when people actually praise Hitler who was cornered like a rat, who shot and killed his wife Eva, then killed himself and his body burned to a crisp like an over barbequed pig. What's so great about the Axis powers, Hitler's allies? Italy's Mussolini and his wife executed by his own people, hung upside down and spat on? Imperial Japan, the only nation in history to be nuked for its brutality, evil and participation in WW2. Any person or group that praises Hitler is beyond vile, morally bankrupt and only speaks for the eternally damned realm of Evil. And when Muslims take this position it just displays how lost they really are.

spot on great post

This self-publicist's story doesn't quite add up. I treat this with caution.

I dare say that much of what you say is true but I also believe that Israel is criticized because it is held to higher standards than most of the countries you mentioned and the reason for that is that it actually aspires to those standards. If it wants to be in the first-world club of nations then the code of behaviour it should follow should be more European and less middle eastern, and that is why there is bias as well, because racism, lack of democracy, religious nationalism etc would never be tolerated in a West European country.

you represent the hope for peace and undertanding.

Rubbish. Apart from small fascist fringe groups and left wing intellectual groups, there is no such bigotry among ordinary people in the UK.

The Philistines are in no way, shape or form descendants of todays Palestinians. When the Romans conquered Eretz Israel, they renamed the land (including present day Israel, the Sinai, Jordan, and part of Iraq) Palestine. They did so after the ancient Philistines in order to try to erase any Jewish ties to the land. The Philistines are an ancient and long-dead tribe. Arabs came along later and were scattered across the Middle East. When the Allied powers began dividing up the Middle East into nation-states after World War I and the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the British took over what became mandate Palestine. For some reason, Arabs over time accepted the Allied Powers' divisions and began referring to themselves as Iraqis, Syrians, Jordanians, Palestinians, etc. However, nobody called themselves a Palestinian until the 1960s. Before that, there were Jews and Arabs living in British mandate Palestine. In 1948, the British ended their mandate rule, and the UN partitioned mandate Palestine into a Jewish state (to be called whatever the Jews wanted....ultimately Israel) and an Arab state (to which no name at the time existed). Arabs in the region rejected any Jewish state in the Middle East and attacked. Yishuv (Israelis living in Israel long before the creation of the modern state) along with Holocaust survivors desparate for a fresh start and freedom for their people fought off 5 Arab armies, and Jews have been defending their right to exist ever since. Despite numerous opportunies for a state since, Arabs who had been living in British mandate Palestine who currently call themselves Palestinians, have rejected any partition of that land and have fought relentlessly to their own peril to drive the Jews into the sea. Despite all of this, the vast majority of Israelis would give up most of their land to share a border with an Arab state that recognized Israel's right to exist and did not work every day to destroy it.

I'd like to add that the Philistines did not originally speak Arabic. But just like the indigenous populations of the Americas who now speak Spanish or English, the Philistines eventually spoke Arabic when the Arabs arrived and dominated the area. There is no doubt that some Arab blood is now mixed into the current Palestinian population, but there also is no doubt that these people are related to the Philistines.

The ancient Philistines HAVE NOTHING TO DO with the modern day Arab inhabitants of the Land of Israel that call themselves "Palestinians". The Philistines of antiquity disappeared as an ethnos more than a THOUSAND YEARS before the Arab invasion of the Land of Israel in the 7th century CE. Look here, it's from the same Wikipedia page that you cited: " The Philistine cities lost their independence to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria by 732 BC, and revolts in following years were all crushed. They were subsequently absorbed into the Babylonian and Persian empires, and disappear as a distinct group by the late 5th century BC (!!!!!)."