It was hard going; people who lived through the 30’s and 40’s were very aware of how the Jews lacked the means to defend themselves and how the world – in what was seen as a predictable, cyclical way – always came around to blaming the Jews for everything. With Israel existing, this would never happen again. So whatever flaw Israel might display now, no matter how difficult it is to rationalize Israeli occupation of Arab territory and the whole issue of settlements, these same people who voted Democratic their whole lives, who fought with Blacks for their civil rights, who pride themselves for liberal open-mindedness on most social issues, when it came to Israel, their sense of fair play seems to vanish. Once they saw their team as the underdog – the worst kind that everyone always beat up on –despite the subsequent fact that their team has become bigger and tougher, the fans will always feel threatened by the other teams, ganged up on, a sentiment not entirely unjustified given all those long bombs thrown into the crowd and the opposing fans cheering lustily. Many of the liberal American Jews of leftist leanings bought into the claim that Arafat’s refusal of a sweet deal at Camp David followed by the second Intifada was proof that Arafat did not want to make a deal. That he was no longer a serious "partner in peace". That it was a fraud, that he is still the same old terrorist, unable and unwilling to make a deal.