This is certainly part of the problem. An additional factor, however, is that most in the West have become lazy intellectually. The general populace is persuaded by glib and superficial historical analogies, such as was examined in this Judt essay. People are generally taken by the use of these broad caricatures since most of the time they tend to be highlights of history and thus easily understood.
It is more laborious to actually examine the logical inference that is being claimed. It is more difficult to actually find out for oneself the historical and contemporary process which is being impugned (here the nature of Israel). It requires one to actually open a few historical texts and examine the material. To read something other than fiction. To spend some time with the material outside of the usual several hours in front of the T.V. Unfortunately for the mass of people these necessary steps are evidently too much.