Joe, the history that you have related in your post is not an undisputed history. I could provide plenty of links to credible sources of information that present an entirely different version of events. Many of these sources of information are Jewish. And many of those Jews are Israelis.

I have already posted quite a few links to some of these sources, and I don't see any point in posting them again. And I would rather not post any of the others for the simple reason that I feel that, beyond what I've already posted, if people are really interested in this information, they will find it through their own efforts.

But I have to take exception to the idea that speaking up for Palestinians fits this characterization of yours "It has become fashionable recently to lionize the Palestians, and to condemn Israel as heartless butchers".

That characterization is entirely unfair and not even a little bit accurate. Some of us feel that there is an immense truth out there that has been entirely buried here in the US and in Israel, and we would like to see that truth brought to light in the interest of fairness and in the interest of what's good for humanity in general. You have every right to disagree with this position, but you don't have any right to dictate our motives to us.

It would relieve me greatly if I could now remove myself from this discussion with a clear conscience knowing that I have contributed everything I have to offer in this thread.