Puzzled by the worldwide dislike of Israel 

Mr Pola has completely misunderstood my letter. The reason I mentioned the seven Nobel Peace Prizes as part of the 12 won by Muslim countries was not because I consider them unworthy, but because the balance in scientific fields clearly tilts in Israel’s favour (8-4). I only mentioned statistics without passing judgement, but my point was to supply one possible reason for the almost irrational aversion of which Israel is the target all around the world. Jealousy may certainly be one reason for that aversion. Another factor may be Israel’s free-wheeling, anything-goes democracy, where for example Arab members of the Knesset (parliament) hurl abuse at the police, the army or the government almost without limits. I assume Mr Pola and others will find Muslim countries where the situation is similar, but I cannot think of even one. Turkey was a democracy until recently, but now it has become a de facto dictatorship. The Arab Spring has not helped much either. 
I know many commentators will say the reason for the widespread dislike of Israel is its treatment of the Palestinians. Fair enough – Israel has nothing to be proud of there. But Israel was intensely disliked even before the 1967 war in which it occupied Jordanian territories which later were claimed by the Palestinians. Finally, talking of statistics, each and every opinion poll leads to the conclusion that over 80 per cent of Israel’s 2 million-strong Arab citizenry wish to stay in Israel even after a Palestinian state is established.
Tikfetzu Lee