Hanson then turns to the question of American aid. He states that since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, the United States has provided nearly $200 billion in military and economic assistance to Ukraine, roughly ten times what Israel received during the same period, according to his figures.
The comparison is meant to challenge the claim that Israel is an exceptional beneficiary of Washington's support. He adds that during this time, Israel faced attacks from more than 30,000 missiles and drones launched by Iran and armed groups in the region.
But the most contentious point in his essay concerns the Gaza war and the debate over casualty figures.
Hanson argues that the numbers cannot be examined without considering the nature of urban warfare and the fact that Hamas operates within civilian areas. He quotes John Spencer, an urban warfare researcher at West Point (the U.S. Military Academy), who according to Hanson says the ratio of combatant to civilian deaths in Gaza ranges between one-to-one and one-to-two, significantly lower, Hanson claims, than the one-to-nine ratio used in some comparisons.
"In urban warfare, the combatant-to-civilian death ratio in Gaza ranges from 1:1 to 1:2", Hanson writes, citing Spencer's research.
He uses this claim to argue that total casualty numbers alone don't tell the full story. According to Hanson, one must also examine the identity of those killed, the nature of the fighting, and Hamas's use of civilian infrastructure.
The fourth front is historical.Hanson rejects the definition of Israel as a colonialist state and the claim that Jews are "colonialist settlers" in the Land of Israel. He points to what he describes as a Jewish historical connection to the land spanning approximately 3,500 years.
"Jews can claim they have lived in their current homeland for at least 3,500 years", he writes.
From there, he redirects the discussion to other countries: China and Tibet, Turkey and northern Cyprus, Azerbaijan and Armenia, and even European nations holding overseas territories. His question is not whether Israel is beyond criticism, but why terms like "colonialism", "apartheid," and "ethnic cleansing" are directed at it in what he sees as an exceptional manner.
Hanson concludes the essay with a claim that extends far beyond the debate over Israeli policy.
According to him, "hating Israel while supporting Hamas" is not a genuine struggle for human rights, but rather a symptom of a deeper phenomenon in the West.
He argues that hatred of Israel reveals not just a position toward one country, but something about the values and prejudices of those who adopt it.
