The western governments need to wake up - all of us, the USA especially sadly seem to be in a tauper, scared that criticism and condemnation of Israel's actions will be seen by some as criticism and condemnation of the Jewish people, religion and culture.
All governments need to be clear on this: Israel, as a country that aspires to be accepted as a free, democratic and respected nation, needs to abide by all the iternational rules, and failure to do so means that it should be called out and criticsed and if neccessary condemed by the rest of the world. The rest of the world should make it very clear that we can and do differentiate between the actions of the government, and the status and culture of the peoples in that country.
Take as an example a episode from the UK's recent past - when the UK's Armed forces were active in Nothern Ireland and in many cases publicly shown to be heavy handed to say the least (if not down right murderous). The UK government and Ministry of Defence where condemed around the world for their actions and rightly so, but, and this is the point: at no point did anyone claim that criticism of the british government was in some way a racist attack against the Englsh, Scots, Welsh or Irish peoples that constitute the UK.
The blockade of huminatarian aid to Gaza, and Israel's latest attempt to maintain that blockade (despite such a blockade probably being illegal under international law) should be roundly condemed by all concerned, and supporters of Israel should be left in no doubt that this condemnation is not a racist act.
It could even be argued that such a outright condemnationis is actually in a way a pro-semitic statement, for until the Israeli government (of whatever colour) stops being a bully and starts acting like a responsible nation that respects the rule of law, Israel and the Jewish people who support it will continued to be eyed with suspicion by those who it most needs to be friends with - its neighbours.
No nation has ever maintained its freedom by supressing the freedoms of others.
