Jim,
I find your pointing to what happens elsewhere as an excuse for these horrific crimes deeply imbecilic.

I excuse nothing.
I just put it into context. All the surrounding states behave worse, so why do you never criticise them or even acknowledge their faults.

Why do you always and only criticise Israel while ignoring the much worse record of all its neighbours?
It is the only Jewish state.
Is that the problem?

(Also I challenge your description of "horrific crimes."
No decent country holds Israel guilty of any crime at all!)