The transparent excuse I keep hearing that a person is hostile to Israel, not to Jews, doesn't stand up to even cursory examination.

If Israel was a Muslim nation, and otherwise doing exactly what it has done throughout history, the Arab world and most of the other groups allied against Israel, including much of the U.N., wouldn't blink an eye.

Land torn from its natives to form a new nation? Half the Mideast was laid out that way, and Jordan is no older than Israel.

Persecuting Palestinians? Name a Mideastern nation that has not persecuted their Palestinian population, including forced deportation of entire populations.

Occupying another land? Syria has occupied Lebanon for years. The same people who want Israel destroyed couldn't care less.

Can you think of one thing Israel has done as a nation that has not been done worse by Arabs to each other on a routine basis?

Israel is hated because it is occupied by Jews. Period. You don't hear Arab radicals shouting for the destruction of Israeli citizens. You hear them shouting for the destruction of the Jews.

And when crackpot groups blame Mossad for every evil in the world, while worshiping at the feet of Palestinian radicals, they're not kidding anyone.