I think it's most often not the criticism itself, but the form and nature of that criticism, that causes concern and vitriolic slurs.
I don't think any reasonable person would argue that peace in the middle east is not highly preferred to what's happening there now ... but how is that peace to be achieved?
Therein lies the debate.
Take Iraq, for example.
Why is it that we are talking of WMD and regime change, when the real issue is much larger and deals with having a military/intelligence presence in the region (for the many reasons discussed here previously) for decades to come?
Surely we, and all others, can kick these issues around without the hate-filled talk that comes from bigotry and prejudice.
After all, we are all reasonable men/women here and all want the same thing in the end ... no?