Why Israel Alone Must Defend Its Right to Exist
Israel’s Enduring Claim — And the World’s Double Standard
This month, as the United Nations once again questioned Israel’s right to exist, I was reminded that no other nation is asked—again and again—to defend its very survival. Why is the Jewish state alone subjected to this scrutiny? Why, after more than three millennia of prayer, memory, and presence in our ancestral homeland, does the world demand that Jews justify our existence?
We often hear public figures assert their support for “Israel’s right to exist.” But pause and consider—when was the last time you heard anyone debate Ireland’s right to exist, or Uganda’s, or New Zealand’s, or even North Korea’s? To single out Israel for this kind of existential litmus test is not neutrality; it’s a form of double-standardism that would be unthinkable applied to any other nation. The question itself is the accusation.
The answer, in part, lies in our story—a story of relentless continuity. From the Revelation at Mt. Sinai 3,337 years ago, the Jewish people have maintained an unbroken chain of tradition, faith, and presence in the Land of Israel. My own rabbinic ordination is not just a certificate on a wall; it is a living link in a sacred transmission, generation by generation, reaching back to G-d’s transmission of the Torah to Moses. Many Jewish families can trace their roots across continents and centuries, but always, the compass points homeward—to Jerusalem, to Judea, to the land that has been our spiritual anchor since time immemorial.
We are not newcomers or colonists. Jews are the most enduring indigenous people on earth, rooted in the hills of Judea and the stones of Jerusalem through every empire, exile, and upheaval. This is not only history—it is the lived reality of our people, who have tilled, prayed, and bled for this land without interruption.
Yet today, the world’s institutions—led by the same United Nations that once recognized the Jewish state—now routinely declare that Israel has no right to exist. These pronouncements come from councils where regimes notorious for terror and oppression, such as Iran and Syria, hold influential positions. It is a bitter irony: those who silence dissent and persecute minorities at home presume to lecture the world’s only Jewish state on morality.
The hypocrisy becomes most glaring in times of war. In modern urban conflicts, civilians tragically account for 80 to 90 percent of fatalities—a ratio of up to 9:1—yet this grim reality rarely sparks global outrage when it occurs elsewhere (Newsweek). By contrast, Israeli operations in Gaza have, according to some independent analysts, produced civilian-to-combatant casualty ratios as low as 1:1 or 2:1—far below the global average for urban warfare (UN Watch). Every loss of innocent life is dreadful, and as Jews, we mourn all suffering.
If Israel were genuinely committing genocide, Hamas would have no reason to embed its forces and weapons within Gaza’s civilian population. The very fact that Hamas chooses to hide among civilians reveals a cynical strategy to provoke images of suffering and blame Israel, not a reality of extermination.
We are told Israel is losing support because of the destruction in Gaza and the suffering of its people. No honest person should minimize the agony of innocent civilians. But the facts on the ground are often hidden from view. Hamas has been documented shooting at Gazans who attempt to evacuate to safety, trapping families in conflict zones to manufacture propaganda and maximize civilian casualties.
While headlines scream of famine, Israeli government and independent studies suggest the average Gazan receives around 3,000 calories per day through humanitarian aid—exceeding the minimum nutritional requirements for adults (Haaretz).
Food prices in Gaza have skyrocketed overall due to war disruption and profiteering, yet localized black market prices for some staples have plummeted due to oversupply when aid trucks enter the area in significant numbers (NPR). Much of the aid never reaches those in need. Hamas controls distribution, hoards supplies, and weaponizes suffering.
The double standard is as old as it is transparent. For centuries, Jews were told to “get out of Europe.” Now, we are told to get out of Israel. Our suffering is denied, or worse—our destruction is openly wished for. The world scapegoats 0.2% of humanity—the Jews—for controlling global affairs. If that were true, would the world look as broken as it does?
I do not base the Jewish people’s claim to the Land of Israel on shifting world opinion or the approval of international bodies. Our bond to this land is eternal, established by the word of G-d as recorded in Genesis 13:14–15: “And the LORD said to Abram... ‘All the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.’” The Jewish return to Israel is not only the fulfillment of prophecy, but the fulfillment of a sacred trust carried through blood, tears, and unwavering faith.
But our story is not one of exclusion or grievance. The prophets of Israel envisioned a time when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4). Our future is bound up with the hope of redemption for all humanity—a vision of justice, peace, and dignity that transcends borders.
That is why I cannot remain silent while ancient lies and new blood libels are hurled at my people. I refuse to sit by as history is twisted and the right of Jews to live in peace—in our land—is denied.
If you share this conviction, I invite you to join those who refuse to let the world’s oldest hatred go unanswered. Add your voice to the chorus proclaiming the eternal bond between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel, and the hope for a future where truth, justice, and peace are more than dreams.
Yonatan Hambourger is a rabbi and writer dedicated to serving spiritual seekers of all backgrounds on behalf of Chabad of Rural Georgia. You can contact him at y@tasteoftorah.org.