I don't think that Peter Oborne was trying to suggest that the pro Israel lobby is a conspiracy, just very very organised and able to 'punch above its weight'.

I think critics of Israel do owe it to try to understand the mindset of Israelis as a people before weighing in.  I once asked Shimon Perez how the Israelis, as a people who during the Jewish diaspora suffered so much could visit further suffering on the Palestinians.  His answer was that while it might not be right it was understandable - and I think we do need to understand (ie comprehend as opposed to condone).

Many Isrealis, and non Israeli Jews, see another holocaust as a real possibility and that criticism of Israel as the thin end of a wedge that driven in will open the way for anti semitism.  I quite understand their vigilance.

However when the pro Israel lobby over reacts, tries to shut down reasoned debate and throws around charges of antisemitism in response to reasoned criticism then it risks desensitising people to antisemitism when it does occur.  If you cry wolf too often, or if you cry antisemitism when it's not warranted, sooner or later a significant section of the international audience will switch off - and that really would be dangerous.