I also sense strongly the problem Fania Oz-Salzberger describes here. It is real, and there probably is no answer for it. Freedom of expression uncensored means the worst evil and nonsense will be said repeatedly by the evil and the ignorant.
But I believe there is exaggeration in singling out Israel for its extremity of responses. In fact any reader of the `Haaretz site` knows that a great share of the persistent hate- filled comment comes swiftly from abroad. And anyone who reads websites, as I suspect most people do, from other countries know that the vitriol there is as sharp and stinging as it is here. Human nature, in this sense, is human nature in most places.
One more point. In the usual effort of the Israeli Left to balance the evil and hate messages of Israel`s opponents- enemies with those of Israel`s lunatic fringe right Oz- Salzberger distorts reality. I suggest she look not simply at the blogs, but the main entries on most Arab and Islamic Websites vis- a- vis Israel. |
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