No, indeed, Jim: I don't think we are that far apart either. I am simply genuinely concerned that some of your more extreme comparisons could lay you open to some very disagreeable accusations which you might be hard-put to refute. I have pointed out to you that accusations of Nazi-like behaviour, however deeply you may feel them deserved by some of the more extreme Israeli actions, are a red-rag to antisemitism seekers ~ NOT ONLY to those of bad faith who use such accusations as a sort of defence-mechanism against criticism of israel, BUT ALSO [& this is the important point], those of good faith who genuinely, and in many cases justifiably, see such accusations as antisemitic because they frequently are. I honestly think some of your more extreme statements, of the sort which you admit to occasionally making, might lay you open to some of the latter sort of accusation by making you appear to be keeping some most undesirable intellectual company, which would be seen by your accusers, and possibly by others whose good opinion you would not wish to lose, as justifiable.

That is a situation I and your other friends would not wish to see you make yourself vulnerable to; and I think you would do well to consider all your animadversions against Israeli actions & intransigence, and all the comparisons you might make based on these, and employ some circumspection in approaching this question if you do not want to find yourself in an invidious position of your own making.

I don't want to sound like Nanny; but please believe I perceive myself as saying these things for your own good.

~Michael~