I have a theory. It goes something like: Nice people like Jews and Israel. Nasty people don’t. Well, maybe not always nasty, although some of them are. Have you ever encountered one of those pleasant, charming, reasonable folks, who suddenly changes personality and turns into a hate-filled monster as soon as the word Israel is mentioned?

If not downright nasty, Israel-haters invariably have ‘issues’ and problems, and their anger quietly bubbles and simmers beneath the sunlit surface, like lava inside a volcano. If they live in a culture where anti-Semitism is well established, that provides a weakness in them, a vent through which the lava of their anger can escape. This explodes in expressions of hate for the Jewish State.

Still, in my experience, nice people like Jews and Israel. And here, in support of this, is a sweet website by a Christian woman, living in Yorkshire, who likes Jews and supports Israel and Israelis.

(And I can’t resist this!)

Meanwhile, I recall being told by people who had personal dealings with the then Cardinal Ratzinger that he was a “nice fellow”, in spite of his fierce reputation as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

And here to prove that he is indeed nice, and not internally corroded as anti-Semites are, is a statement from a recent meeting with Anti-Defamation League

According to an ADL press release, Pope Benedict gave the personal assurance to Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, that “I will always be there for you in fighting anti-Semitism”.

Why can’t Naim Ateek or Bishop Riah or Patriarch Michel Sabbah say things like that?

What do you mean - they're not nice people?