"Information Clearing House" - I frequently criticize Brian Lehrer because he is an intelligent/progressive/influential public-radio host in New York City and also a reflexive defender of Israel. He's what I'm up against in liberal Jewish establishment opinion. 

Well, the other day Lehrer interviewed neoconservative Elliott Abrams (who is due to speak at Brooklyn College's Political Science Department soon) and-- impelled by the Saturday Night Live skit that never made it to air about Would you fellate a donkey for Israel?-- Lehrer repeatedly questioned Abrams about the countries' different interests: Why Americans should care about Israel, what does Israel do for America, etc.

And then in questioning Abrams about his smear of Chuck Hagel as an anti-Semite, Lehrer went on to assert that there's a difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli-ism, or anti-Israel-lobbyism. 

Notwithstanding the fact that Lehrer said that Palestinians rejected a generous offer at Camp David in 2000, it was a superb interview. Extended excerpts follow, with my comments. (Thanks to Phil Shea).

Abrams: The one sentence summary of [the peace process] is that the most that Israel is willing to offer right now is less than the least that Palestinians are able to accept right now. I think that's still true.

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