I think you should refer to the JFT info pool thread ...
@Manticore has done beyond an excellent job of compiling information about the aircraft -- which would surely convince you or anybody else for that matter, that JFT is a 4th generation platform .... One could go in to details as to why ... but to put it in the most simplest way possible, it offers alot more then the 4th generation F-16 A/B, infact one could even make a case for it being a tad bit better then the early C/D models minus the range & payload ... but I guess you get the point ...
Sometimes the cause of confusion, is that, there are platforms that are upgraded ... like the Mig-21 of the IAF, technically would fall under the 2nd generation aircraft banner, yet the aircraft is operational today ... and is quite a good platform in its Bison form where it can fire BVR's and has avionics upgrades etc. Same is the case with Mirage III/V Rose we operate or the F-7 PG's ... these aircrafts originally would fall under 2nd/3rd gens but owing to the upgrades that they've received ... in terms of what they offer they would be somewhere between 3rd gen and 4th gen fighters --- a 3.5 generation if you will ... or some could call them an early 4th gen ...maybe ... but then again -- putting generations on aircrafts ... is not really the best way to judge a platform ... after all we see the exceptions in platforms that originally belong to one generation .... but once upgraded perform up to par with another ...