I see. That is more in line with what I know about you. However, the rest of my point is that the world has, for the most part, sided with Palestine over Israel, despite history and common sense. In this instance it has everything to do with Jewish people: I'm sure Elie Wiesel would have had no trouble viewing Palestinians with respect -- indeed, what you cite notwithstanding, he spoke of them thus at least a few times -- but I'm equally sure he desired compassion and respect from them first. So it goes. Perhaps I am as blinded as everyone else. I find it hard to lay any sort of blame at the feet of Wiesel or the Jewish people. They have repeatedly earned, in blood, our respect and sorrow.
I am mostly Polish, and I have been told that a significant number of Jewish Poles converted at one time or another to Catholicism, some to avoid persecution. For all I know, my Jewish ancestors suffered for their religious heritage. If so, am I or am I not able to identify with their suffering? Wiesel earned our respect and sorrow for what he faced. IMHO, one should be judged by what he or she faces and their own response. Of course, what one's ancestor's faced is likely to still exist, but there is an important distinction between inheriting adversity, and inheriting the respect from how one's ancestor's faced it. Each generation must be judged independently for their actions, as there is no choice in what we inherit. It means that we can move forward, it means that we can empathize, and it means that we can forgive.I find it hard to lay any sort of blame at the feet of Wiesel or the Jewish people. They have repeatedly earned, in blood, our respect and sorrow.