The author is correct but doesn't mention Israel,s huge contribution to this situation. "Western societies are increasingly numbed by anti-Israeli... rhetoric" indeed, but why? Only because Israel under Sharon and Bibi has pursued an aggressive, illegitimate pro-settlement policy, making it impossible for democratic states to support it, giving substance to Arab and anti-Semitic propaganda and allowing confused young Westerners to see Israel as the bad guy. Israeli strategic stupidity, driven by the short-term goals of religious fantasists, has given its enemies the upper hand, and it has no one else to blame.

Europe doesn't have leaders, only frightening enablers to terrorist regimes & their subsidiaries in their own back yard. Iran on the other hand has dictatorial leaders who know precisely what they want & where they are going without any democratic nuisance stopping them.

If you want to give half a country to the so-called "Palestinians", why don't you give them half of yours? Israel is already small enough and those "Palestinians" will not give up before they have got all of Israel (aka "Palestine from the river [Jordan] to the sea [Mediterranean]").

Israel’s policy is to survive, with no apologies. Israel is the most democratic state in the area, yet democratic states “can’t support it”? Only because they are blind to facts and history, as you are. Aggresive?! Who attacked whom all these years. Who says their country will be judenrien? Who says they want to kill all the Jews? No one has been able to refute this statement, not even you. You are a one-person example of the democratic states of which you speak: You ignore facts and close your eyes to what you don’t want to see.

Dan is quite correct, despite the rubbish spouted here by his detractors.

"Israel can't be supported because of Sharon & Bibi's aggressive, illegitimate, pro settlement policy"? What's your excuse then for the 1948 & 1967 wars? There weren't any ''settlements" then. Bibi (1948) was a child & Sharon was a soldier fighting fanatic Arab armies wanting to kill the Jews, without the excuse of 'Settlements & Palestinians, for both didn't exist. In those days Jews were Palestinians & Arabs were just Arabs.

Despite the rubbish you both spout. If you are so concerned with 'settlements' and 'occupation', it is the Jordanians who had occupied the area, including East Jerusalem, since 1948. Read some history, then post.

Alternatively Israel could formally annex the land to it's East and give the people living there the same rights as those who live in Israel proper.

... or send them to the land of their origin - Jordan.

I would like someone to document their claim that Israeli settlement of Judea and Samaria is "illegal." I can -- and frequently have -- cited numerous reasons under all recognized international law, statute and convention why Israeli settlements are fully lawful. Here's a helpful hint: Stating that "every country in the world says that Israeli settlements are illegal" does not constitute citing to law, statute or convention. Following that, I would love for someone to tell me why, upon annexation of Judea and Samaria, Israel could not repatriate illegal aliens and non-citizens of the State of Israel to the country(ies) of their citizenship. Go for it! I'm waiting. Here's a second helpful hint: Article 47 of the Geneva Convention applies exclusively to sovereign states. It does NOT apply to citizens of foreign countries residing illegally in a sovereign state. Arabs squatting in Judea and Samaria are Jordanian citizens, and there is nothing which prevents a sovereign state from expelling undesirable and illegal aliens. Happens all the time. So -- who wants to throw down?

are getting every day weaker and have not much influence on the strong Muslim societies who belief in G-D. Faith generates immense strength. Hence the Muslims conquered Europa,now Eurabia ,and decides what Eurabia should think.

you give Iran far too much credit. Iran wants to be the regional superpower, but it's failing economy and rampant corruption have left it a regional weakling, incapable of even protecting Assad. Now their nuclear card has also been taken from them their plans are in tatters. They aren't about to give up and the world needs to watch them carefully, but the threat from Iran is dwindling not growing....at the moment.

As you have said, you keep banging on about these things. So, here's a difficulty. In 1988 Jordan enacted regulations for disengagement from the West Bank / 'Judea and Samaria'. Article 2 of these stated: ‘Every person residing in the West Bank before the date of 31/7/1988 will be considered as Palestinian citizens and not as Jordanian.’ So they lost citizenship rights within Jordan and effectively became stateless. You might not like what Jordan has done - but they did it. Essentially, Jordan has said if you want the house you take it with its contents.

Iran has. More weaknesses more than strengths that can be easily exploited , and these are as follows : - Continue the economic sanctions - The Persians are only about 55% of the populations that is why Iran partly overplays the ideological at the expense of the nationalistic , support the minorities by info , weapons , case with Westren public opinion and politicians . - Support opposition it's everywhere . - continue to bleed them in Syria and Lebanon , Yemen , Iraq - Talbaena made stupid mistake for supporting Alqaeda, but things can be patched up again with Taleban once US withdraw again in 2014 ..

Thanks for the varied response to my post at #1. My critics misunderstand. I agree that at present the Palestinian intention is probably to destroy Israel. My point is that the settlements allow them to pretend they are only 'resisting' Israel's land-grab. We must abandon the settlements while maintaining the military occupation, thus proving to all that we are not there for the land but for peace and security, and only because of the war they started. Settlements no, occupation yes, until they sign a treaty. Then, if they are stupid enough to attack, we will at least have allies; right now we have pretty much none. Also, keepin the settlements keeps every new Arab generation's hatred alive instead of giving it a chance to fade. We can either maintain the excuse for ongoing Arab aggression or create the conditions for eventual peace. Which do we want?