But, to be fair: Where I come from “little babies” do not blow themselves up among civilians. The Israelis are certainly not saints but the Palestinians are far from innocent victims. Both sides at this point are preoccupied with punitive measures that they believe will make their enemies piss themselves and go away. Not going to happen. Neither Israelis or Palestinians are going anywhere. The sooner both parties (and the rest of the world) accepts this the sooner we can achieve lasting peace.

Where I come from warriors fight warriors, not little babies.

Does this define Israel. Not really. I think that on the whole, Israelis are much more inclined toward peace than war. Guns are a part of the reality of the need to survive. Yes. But they do not dominate Israeli culture. Music, and dance, and academics, and business, and art, and religion, and architecture, are far more descriptive of Israeli culture, than guns.

I think there is a natural inclination in the world to hold Israel up to a very high standard, higher than anything that has been achieved by any other nation on earth. In light of that high standard, anything that happens in Israel, that does not measure up to that standard, is singled out and condemned around the world. Maybe this is good, in a way, because it forces Israel to be highly cognizant of its place in the world. But on the other hand, it’s a hard burden to carry.

Yes, Israel has good and bad. And no, I’m not particularly fond of guns, even though I am very fond of self-defense. Israel is far from perfect. But I choose to believe, based on plenty of evidence, that perfection is her goal, and that on the whole, the search for peace and justice guides her way.

It’s a lot better now.

In Israel this is a very known issue. Anyone can ask to get his visa stamp on a sheet apart and NOT in your passport.

It IS recommended though, if possible to visit Israel with a non-Arab passport. About 2 month ago a student from Cairo came to visit Israel and the West Bank for the first time – but not with her Egyptian passport, and not directly from Cairo, but with her British passport and coming from Cyprus.

But then again, aren’t most Arab passports stamped “valid for all countries except Israel?”

Israelis get into trouble with their governments for visiting Arab countries too, y’know.