Jerusalem Post columnist urges the US to follow debates on Israel’s legitimacy
Jeffrey Kahn, a columnist for the Israeli outlet The Jerusalem Post, urged Americans to follow debates about Israel’s identity and legitimacy more closely. In his view, approaches to assessing Israel may eventually affect disputes over US history and national identity.
Criticism of policy and the state’s legitimacy
Kahn, who describes himself as a fourth-generation American and a first-generation Israeli, writes that Israel and the United States have differences, but both countries are modern states with complex histories and diverse populations. He emphasizes that criticism of the actions of Israeli governments is not equivalent to denying Israel’s right to exist.
The author argues that a reversal of roles is taking place in international perceptions: Israel, which long described itself as a state surrounded by enemies, is now often seen as the stronger side, while Palestinians are seen as the weaker one. In his assessment, such discussions insufficiently take into account the October 7 attack, as well as the role of Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas in the regional confrontation.
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Parallels with the United States
Kahn draws a line between claiming that a country has made mistakes and claiming that its very identity or existence is a mistake. In his view, similar logic may also be applied to the United States, particularly in disputes over war, population displacement, immigration, race, religion and historical legacy.
The columnist also writes about the vulnerability of public debates to manipulation through modern technologies and communications. He names Iran, Russia, China, Turkey and Qatar as countries that, in his belief, influence information processes beyond their own borders. Separately, the author urged Americans, when assessing Israel’s response after October 7, to remember the US response to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the September 11 terrorist attacks.
