To the Editor:

Kenan Malik’s analysis of “The British Left’s Jewish Problem” (Opinion, May 4) is exceedingly incisive. The left, in general, not just in Britain, has allowed the progressive narrative to be hijacked by people whom Mr. Malik describes as having adopted “identity politics.”

There is one area, though, in which he may have tripped up. He suggests that “criticism of Zionism” is “criticism of an ideology.” It can easily be more than that. If criticism of Zionism means criticism of this or that action taken by the Israeli government of the day, that is one thing; such criticism is obviously legitimate.

But if criticism of Zionism means criticism of the notion that the Jews have a right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland, that is another; it is tantamount to saying that Israel does not have the right to exist despite history. It is easy to see why Jews would be very slow to concede that such criticism is legitimate and why they may infer that it is motivated by anti-Semitism even though it may not be in fact.

DAVID C. NATHANSON

Toronto