""You do not read or hear substantial criticism of Israel in the mainstream US media

Mainly because it is very, very far from being the worst country on Earth, so it does not merit "substantial criticism."

You would like it to be singled out for criticism like it is here, and like it is where "You have to search for it online, and your sources, with the best will in the world, hardly enjoy the heft of the mainstream guys.""

There you go again, Keith the perennial non sequitur.

The fact that it isn't "the worst in the world" is a totally invalid reason for saying it is above criticism.

If Israel were even one tenth as good as you would have us believe, it wouldn't need AIPAC or anybody else blocking news items about its activity. Neither would this, or similar, discussions exist.

It is precisely because the Israel apologist lobby works so damn hard to prevent any exposure of Israeli actions in the mainstream media, that it is obvious there is something they need to keep hidden.

It is because of this cover up that we ""have to search for it online, and our sources, with the best will in the world, hardly enjoy the heft of the mainstream guys"", but are the only sources who cannot be blackmailed into silence by AIPAC and for that reason are able to tell the truth.

In all the world, only Israel is allowed to acquit itself of all blame, simply based on its own denials, given against a mass of contrary evidence, much of it from Israeli citizens.

Don T.