Commentary Magazine (sic!):

But the difference in the treatment to which they subject Israel as opposed to Arab dictatorships has another cause, which is more difficult to attribute to pure animosity. It is the desire to protect access, which is always a primary concern for activists and journalists who wish to work in authoritarian societies.

The effect is that democracies get pilloried, while dictators and oppressors are given kid-gloves treatment in order to retain access to their countries.

Full Article: Dictatorships and Double Standards. By Noah Pollak.