Maybe it's different in Gernmany, Wolfgang, but in the letter columns and the papers here it is very common indeed for people to be accused of being anti-semitic because they are critical of Israel.

True enough, there are anti-semites who anti-Zionism as a camouflage, just as there are supporters of Israel who use the label of "anti-semite" as a way of defusing and deflecting criticism.

In a way there is an analogy between what happens in this context and what happens in the Intifada. Terrorist attacks cause horrible damage to innocent people - but the effect is to make it easier for the extremist givernment in Israel to maintain its position. If there was an end to terrorism, their hold on power would be in danger.

And much the same is true about anti-semitism. And by branding people who are not anti-semitic in this way, it becomes easier for the real anti-semites to operate and to spread their poison.