I think - not really. He just don't like both side, but one side is more then another. He wrong about some thing, but people who typically criticize him are not really right either.

There are not just two position and two sides, the whole point is to understand and agree that there is wrongdoings on both sides.

There is antisemitism, nationalism, religious fanaticism on Palestinian side, and same nationalism, religious fanaticism and hate toward Palestinians (hating people just for their nationality, not views and actions of individual), on Israeli side.

There is right wingers, and nationalist in Israel, who make excuses (typical 'self-defense' argument) for crimes of their side. And there is those people who ignore fact that some Palestinians indoctrinate their children with hate to anything related to Israel.

But some people like to just pick one side. Some want to see Palestinians as exclusively victim, ignoring wrongdoing of some specific individuals, groups, and organizations among them. Some like to argue about Israel being victim, "who just want to defend themself", ignoring usage of artillery and rockets, that doesn't kill some single "terrorists" (btw without trial I bet), but also injuring and killing innocent people.

And there is people who condemn both sides but still have more sympathy to one side or another.

There is also people, who for some reason ignore religious side, and attack criticism directed against of specific set of beliefs as racism - which is wrong.

But there is also people who don't want to see that in addition to religion there is also nationalism!

If you would look at interview Sam Harris and Cenk Uygur, without bias, honestly, you would see. That only problem of Sam Harris, is that he is little bit stubborn and arrogant, and while almost agreeing can't fully accept idea, that there is two factors behind conflict - both nationalism and religion. He probably think, or afraid, that this somehow excuses religion, but it's not, both thing can be a equal evils, and equal factors. Yet he clearly say that he condemns rebellious fanaticism on both side, and crimes.

But problem is that Cenk Uygur also, while come very close to this, can't express this idea clearly, and because of this it's indeed may look like he is arguing in defense of religion (while also being atheist), saying that it's not a factor. This is why I believe there is lack of understanding.

And I'm not even saying about people like Ben Affleck, who are much much worse then Cenk Uygur, and don't even try to talk and understand opponent position, but just outright accuses people of being racists.

Point is, people should not try to put other people exclusively on one side - 'us vs them', yes, there are racists, yes there are people who discriminate against people because their look, or because where they come from. There are also right wingers, nationalists, and Nazis, but this doesn't mean that if you criticize Islam as religion, or elements of some people culture - you must be automatically a one of them. It's also doesn't mean, that you support Israel and their crimes, if you criticize Islam, or you criticize actions of some Palestinians.

People like Sam Harris, being humanists, could be a good ally in fighting injustice and crimes against humanity, on both side, but this attitude of people, who just want to witch hunt and accuses people of supporting one side, will not do anything good and can even push people away. I mean, how can one demand rationality from Sam Harris, if people who attack him are not rational, and doesn't want to have positive discussion, but want judge and accuse opponent of being immoral.