Using Zionist Rhetoric Against Israel

I found this post at Oranges and Olives interesting. Ned attacks Israelis who say Palestinians should shut up and assimilate:

"But let us take a look at the issue from a different point of view: Didn't the Jews maintain their national aspiration for a return to the holy land? Did they not stay for 2000 years in the diaspora while maintaining themselves as a distinct group from those other groups they lived amongst?"

That's a tough argument. I wonder what the hard core Israel supporters would say to this? No doubt Marty Peretz would claim that the difference is that Jews are people and Palestinians are beasts. Or something like that.