Any comment, if judgemental is un-helpful. Any written judgemental comment is exponentially so. So the forum i.e. the Observer is good for providing a conduit for the debate, but the debate lacks something. This isn't "easy", the Truth and Reconciliation process in SA continues as a difficult and painful event, in my own Ireland, we continue to emerge drenched in uncertainty making baby steps towards a solution. All is propaganda, unless it speaks to and talks about a readily acknowledged reality. We need to make up our minds about whether we believe or not, but the newspaper has permitted the debate and absolutely, this is good thing, no matter what is thought of Weiss or the blog commentary. I agree with anon's comment about the future irrelevancy of the middle-east, because we Westerners will have no interest there anymore, having drained it dry of oil. In the meantime, we Westerners continue to wreak havoc and subvert legitimate democratic processes. A good balance to this commentary might be Robert Fisk's articles in the English Independent (website). He has invested a huge amount of his life in giving an account on Middle and far eastern affairs. He has been repeatedly called "pro-Arab", I'm not sure, but would be interested in hearing other opinions. Finally, I found this forum last week and have no idea of past reports or prejudices, so start today. Anon's comment on median is real, although vague, do you means most of Jewish median group are immigrants i.e. ineligible for military service?