Israel’s Existence as the Jewish State

Re “ ‘Jewish State’ Has Become an Anachronism,” Commentary, Oct. 10: As a Jewish refugee from Iran, I read with amusement Tony Judt’s opinion that the “Jewish” state is anachronistic. For thousands of years, Jews have self-described themselves as “Am-Israel,” or the People of Israel, but Judt has now decided that the Jews are not entitled to their own state because of its effect on non-Jews. Perhaps he also thinks that the U.S. should not exist because it might discriminate against noncitizens. The least he could have done was also write why the Islamic Republic of Iran or the Islamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should not exist as well. Otherwise, why is he picking only on the “Jewish” state?

David Simantob

Los Angeles

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Finally somebody is talking sense. Set aside Islamism. Set aside Zionism. Let there be justice and freedom for everyone in Israel-Palestine.

Stephen Simon

Claremont

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If Judt has concluded that it is too late for a two-state solution in the Middle East, then he ought to be aware of the fact that it was already too late for a binational solution back in the ‘30s. The tragedy at present is that it appears to be too late for any solution. What both parties have sown is hatred, distrust and violence. Heaven only knows what the future will bring. Perhaps Judt can enlighten us by naming a single state that has willingly and wittingly dismantled itself.

Rabbi Chaim

Seidler-Feller

Director, Yitzhak Rabin

Center for Jewish Life

UCLA