Peter Beinart is a highly influential American journalist, political pundit, and academic, currently serving as a Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York (CUNY). Born into a Jewish family, he has long been regarded as a leading voice among liberal Jewish intellectuals in the United States. His Jewish identity is the core of his work; as an observant Jew, he has dedicated his career to a deep reflection on Jewish ethics and modern political power, believing that being true to Jewish values requires a critical examination of power.
Beinart served as the editor of “The New Republic” at a remarkably young age and has been a senior contributor to “The Atlantic” and “The Forward.” His most famous book, “The Crisis of Zionism,” offered a profound warning about the growing rift between young American Jews and Israeli policies. With his sharp analysis and insight into complex political issues, he has become one of the most closely followed commentators in the American mainstream media on Middle East policy and Jewish civil rights.
Beinart’s support for Palestine reflects a significant intellectual transformation from “liberal Zionism” toward advocating for “equal rights.” In his landmark 2020 essay, “I Believe in the Jewish State. I Now Support a One-State Solution,” he publicly advocated for a single democratic state where Jews and Palestinians enjoy full, equal rights. He not only frequently calls for an end to the occupation through columns and lectures but also actively supports the Palestinian “Right of Return” and argues that U.S. aid to Israel should be conditioned on human rights. He maintains that Jewish safety should not be built upon the oppression of another people and encourages the Jewish community to confront the truth of the Nakba, believing that true justice and peace can only be achieved by acknowledging each other’s suffering and rights.