““in your imagination””
Analysis is funny like that. Luckily the word “Implied” exists or else we would all be locked up.
To me, he has this awkward problem. As a Jewish writer who is very pro-Israel, he feels uncomfortable pointing out that Jews are better off in the US than in Israel. Feels to him like he’s ripping on the purpose of the Jewish state.
So he avoids saying that outright by sort of allowing rhetorically that it might be a “tie” as to which is better. But then goes on to point out all the reasons why the US is and has been.