Its root is self-congratulation, as if they feel that they should be put on pedestals for their solidarity with the Palestinians 'in the middle of their hostile society'. My feeling about this is that they need to grow up. The day we believe we should be treated specially for simply doing what's right and what every person should be doing is the day we should stop, take time out, and think about who is really likely to be served as our beliefs are acted out in reality. The water from the wells of our souls spills into the world we move around in. Don't think that the taste of pride doesn't matter just because the thirsty people drinking don't seem to be complaining.
Every action has a reaction at some level.
A lot of them consider themsleves left-wing. Just the simple act of believing that Israeli soldiers have the potential to be racist, murdering thugs also seems to be difficult for many of them. One Israeli who rang me at Birzeit during the September 1996 clashes, to ask how I was, refused to believe point blank that Israeli soldiers were shooting live ammunition at Palestinian demonstators even though their own lives were not endangered. You might believe it happens, but that belief will never really amount to anything unless you actually see it happen in front of your own eyes. Experiences like that teach you severe lessons about human nature, so severe that one of the results is a profound humility.