Israel's image where you live

Depending who you talk to around here, Israel either can do no wrong, or it is an evil apartheid regime that should be destroyed.

I don't take either stance. I believe that both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, as individuals, have the right to live and prosper. Their respective political states, on the other hand, can go to hell. A pox o' both their houses.

^^ Yes, but which of them are... Less Wrong?

^ You are beyond help.

Around here, the official stance is pro-Israel, or in favour of Israel (though it is not meant to imply inability to criticise; it's kind of like "they've been for so long here, they're Honorary Poles"). What a man-on-the-street thinks I am not sure if I can describe truthfully; I won't categorise, so I'd just say it depends upon who is this man you're now asking. I've encountered opinions of the "lol apartheid" kind, and the "Jews Are Smart (so even if I don't agree, I respect them)" kind.

^^ Obviously, those that have Yudkowsky's stamp of approval.

^^ Whoever thinks Israel is smart about things is... misinformed, unless they assume Israel does stupid stuff For the Evulz, in which case maybe they should try Hanlon's Razor.

Which, now that I think to it, when applied to the Nazis, dis-demonizes them a lot. Hitler comes off as a moron, and the Final Solution comes off as unbelievably stupid, if you think of it for a while. Actually the very idea of Anti-Semitism is stupid, but that's irrationality for you.

^ Do you think Lesswrong is only about Yudkowsky? You'll note that while he has posted an Archive Panic worthy amount of posts, none of them are among the ones with the highest score, not by a long shot. There are many other contributors, and they bring awesome stuff to the table.