Israel is a nation like any other - it has good points and bad points. No nation is totally evil or totally good.
Frankly, I see Israel has a.... paranoid country that's a bit too willing to lash out at others. Given its history, it's understandable that they are hyper paranoid about everyone and everything.
I support Israel's right to exist. But here's the thing: I also support Palestine's right to exist. I think the two should exist side by side.
Israel have caused some problems, but not all of the problems in that region are it's fault - both Jews and Arabs have been VERY racist against each other. I think Israel is changing, as its youth finds its voice, and that's a good thing.
I don't think Israel are horribly maniacally evil, unlike some on the left. I do think the current government is racist against Arabs (just look at the stuff your foreign minster says), but the Arabs are just as racist as the Jews.
I've met several Israelis - and they were just people, you know. No different than any other. A bit more hawkish than other nationalities, but again after waging, what, five wars in relatively quick succession, you're gonna be a bit paranoid.
Overall, I like the Israeli people, but I have problems with your government and their response to the Palestinians. If your government would just stop increasing the size of Israel, then I would probably like Israel a lot more. I'm not saying that Israel should give huge chunks of land to the Palestinians, but that you refrain from erecting more settlements on Palestinian land. Israel has a right to exist - not a right to slowly crush Palestine out of existence. It's the Palestinian's homeland just as much as it is yours.
If you're talking about Jewish culture and the Israeli culture as a whole - I have no problem with it. They're very much westerners. They wear jeans and drink Coca Cola and play video games. I have no problem getting along with Israelis or Jews.
So yeah - I view Israel has a nation that is (somewhat justifiably) paranoid, but generally not as evil as some would make it out to be. Then again, I also don't see Israel has some sort of shining perfect beacon in the Middle East - I have serious problems with the way your government treats the Palestinians, but I am also well aware that there is a lot of debate and dissatisfaction within Israel itself in regards to this - a lot of Israelis want peace as well, and the Palestinians have committed just as many harmful acts of war as the Israelis. In regards to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict: I think both sides are responsible for the conflict and both sides NEED to compromise in order for peace to be achieved.
But Jews as a whole - they're fine. They're just people like me or anyone else. Don't have a problem with them.
