I did not suggest that I knew all there is to know about Israel simply because I had lived there. But I do know enough to state that it is not the country that Jim Carroll describes.
There are many people in Israel who are critical of the government, there are many Jews outside Israel who are also very disturbed by the state of affairs in Israel . I do agree with you about Likud, they will not move the country any nearer to peace. But rhetoric like Jims is not helpful. It has the opposit effect and drives people of reason crazy.
It is possible, believe it or not, that Jim Carroll is wrong! I, for one, do not believe in his infallibility!