So again sorry if anyone got offended, didn’t mean it, a bit of ignorance from my part.

That said, it cant be denied that the Zionist movement early last century gained support from the British mainly, and managed to create a cause for itself.

As for the lobby, I wasnt implying that they were targeting the Scandinavian north, but I do believe that in a world witnessing a war of cultures, they did a pretty good job in manipulating anti-Islamic feelings it into a pro-Israeli stance, starting from the US and expanding into Europe. It becomes easy for 19th century Scandinavian christian groups and their likes to accept the pro-Israeli stance, since it bodes quite well with their on-going cultural clash with the Muslims. That was my point, but I might have gone about it in a wrong manner.

But then i think again … bravo to the Israeli lobby for managing to absorb the cultural animosities that have existed between the Muslims and Anglo/Euro-Christians since the start of the Islamic expeditions deep into Europe surmounting in Andalusia and Muslim presence in East Europe/Italy/Greece etc… hundreds of years ago and turn it on the Christian side into the support for existence of the Israeli state and its “noble”,”peace loving” people. Ironic, but it worked well for them. I dont blame the Swedish grandmas for thinking this way, I congratulate the british/euro zionist movement of the late 20th century that worked its way down the years to get here!

Firas…. Dude! I’m publishing this comment because I know, based on our correspondence, that you don’t mean to offend anyone, but on most blogs this would be interpreted as a flaming comment. Do check your history – e.g.,. the Romans crucified Jesus (not the Jews), but let’s leave that aside because I’m much more interested in the present.

The Swedish grannies are, as Jacob points out below, adherents of a 19th-century Scandinavian Christian group. I doubt they’ve even heard of the “lobby,” since they speak English poorly and live a sheltered life. In fact, these Scandinavian Christians set up colonies in the holy land during the Ottoman times. You’ll have to ask them about their interpretation of the Bible, but it has nothing to do with Walt, Mearsheimer or the lobbying system in the United States. Lisa

As one of the millions of completely assimilated half-jewish Americans who’ve never even been to Israel, I follow media coverage about Israel fairly closely. I depend on your blog for the human side of things there. I, like the Swedish grandmas, really want Israel to succeed, prosper, and last. I hope to visit someday. However, I’m really disturbed by the topic alluded to in your mention of article about the religious war within the Israeli military. I’m especially horrified by the recent news reports of Israeli military t-shirts which make such light of the killing of Palestinians. (“One shot, Two kills” w/ a picture of a pregnant Palestinian woman on one of the t-shirts) This to me is so despicable not just for its brutality, insensitivity, and overall evilness, but also for the public relations debacle it presents for Jews in general and Israel in particular. I am really hoping that you will address this issue in your blog because I value your perspective so highly. Thanks for all your good work.

Hi Justin, I was expecting someone to ask me about the T-shirt story. It’s quite a hot topic in the Hebrew blogosphere, but I haven’t seen any serious references from Anglo-Israeli bloggers. I’d rather go see the dentist about my suspiciously sensitive molar than write about moral issues in the IDF, so I think I’ll just take the easy way and offer some translations from the Hebrew-sphere. Just one observation – and I want to emphasize that this does not excuse, qualify or detract from the gravity of the story: these incidents of dehumanization are not unique to Israeli soldiers. You find them in every army. It’s just that when the perpetrators are “your own,” you take it personally. Understandably so. Lisa

Though not on the same level, my home, New Orleans, tends to engender strong feelings in people from all over the U.S. and the world–many love the city with an absurd, fantasy-like fervor, while others are needlessly harsh and hateful. To me, it’s home, the place I work 5-6 days a week from dawn to dusk and relax at my house with my family when I can. I don’t think much about the French Quarter, or the great, haute cuisine restaurants. It’s not Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest every weekend. There aren’t running gun battles or drug dealers on every corner either. Yet all of that and much more exists at times and places that are, to me very familiar. NOLA is a marvelous, imperfect, endangered place very much worthy of the love of strangers, guests, and locals. I think Israel is, too–even moreso. One reason I, too, love Israel is that she is the cradle of my civilization–the “Judeo-Christian” culture that, through twists, turns, and reversals, brought Europe and the rest of the world to a more humane and progressive level of culture. My views are probably a lot more nuanced and historical than the unquestioning faith-based approaches of the Swedish Grannies, but does that make either of our affections and support for Israel less worthy?

Ay U, my story is not about judging whether or not one’s affection for Israel is worthwhile. It is about the differing perspectives one brings to that love. For example, those three Israeli teenagers probably love their country too – but they are secular and Jewish, so their feelings are predicated on different values than those of the Christian Swedes, just as mine is. If the Swedish Jesus Grannies are happy and they’re not hurting anyone, I’ve got no problem with them. Lisa

BARRY!!! I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT!!!! ALSO, WHY THE CAPS AND EXCLAMATION MARKS?!!! Lisa