Oxblog thinks that Liberal blogs aren't writing much about the Middle East crisis because we're scared of the left wingers who will descend upon us if we say anything even remotely supportive of Israel. [1]

Clearly, something else besides complexity is preventing liberal bloggers from writing about Israel. I would suggest that there is a part of the online left which is so viciously anti-Israel that moderates have been intimidated into silence. Let's hope that this kind of viciousness never migrates off line, where it might threaten bipartisan support for Israel.

First of all - plenty of liberal blogs have spent a lot of time writing about the war. Check out... such minor bloggers as, oh Atrios and Billmon, amongst others. Second of all no one is scared of the anti-Israeli left. What are they going to do, call you an anti-semite?

No, there is no fear of an anti-Israeli left, if there was any fear it'd of being called an anti-semite - that has real consequences and once attached to a public figure will follow them forever. Sure there is an anti-Israeli left. But it has no power or influence of any kind. If you don't believe me check out the lop-sided condemnations of Hizbollah and blank checks written for Israel to bomb the hell out of Lebanon written and passed by the House and Senate with broad bipartisan support. Pelosi couldn't even get language included which asked for both sides to limit casualties.

So no, left wing blogs haven't avoided the subject out of fear of some anti-Israeli left. If any fear was involved fearing such a powerless toothless group would be beyond stupid. Noticing, howerver that the pro-Israeli lobby is very powerful and very willing to use the anti-semite card and that that carries real consequences... that would be smart. But as far as I can see no bloggers have buckled under to that fear either.