Madonna and daughter Lourdes onstage in Israel.Madonna was her provocative self, closing out her concert in Israel Wednesday night, wrapping herself in the Israeli flag onstage in front of 50,000 fans. It appears to be a spontaneous gesture — a fan handed it to her.

YouTubers went crazy, according to Israel newspaper Ynetnews, telling Madonna “to go burn in hell, you’re end is near.”

To their credit Ynetnews devotes most of the article to an interview with Hania Bitar, director general of the Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation, who tries to bring sensibility to the madness and admits that the protest against Madonna is gaining momentum among youth in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian youth are under the blockade and cannot see Madonna. The residents of Gaza aren’t anti-Madonna but believe that because she thrusts herself into the spotlight of being an international role model, then she should also speak on behalf of Gaza, says Bitar.

Madonna with Israeli fans, ending her world tour Sept. 2, 2009The calm, cogent director emphasized that it is Madonna’s right to sing for Israelis and to wrap herself in an Israeli flag. More than once in the interview, she asks Madonna to adopt a Palestinian child in order to understand that Palestinians are fighting for their freedom and don’t want violence.

While foes are threatening to rip Madonna to pieces for her flag incident, Palestinian Hania Bitar’s calm, reasoned voice is an inspiring response to a volatile situation. Anne

Madonna with an Israeli National Flag - Stick & Sweet Tour