OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Articles Next 

ISLAM (21)

 

Islam’s View of the Jews (3)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            In our study of Islam’s view of the Jews, we have seen that the Qur’an teaches Muslims to be in opposition to the Jews.  The groups in Islam who are very fundamental in their beliefs take the statements in the Qur’an to their logical conclusion.  They are bitter enemies of Israel.  They want to push Israel into the Mediterranean Sea.  In 1937, Saudi Arabia’s King Ibn Saud explained that the Muslim’s hatred of the Jews is based on the Qur’an.  He then noted:  “’for a Muslim to kill a Jew…ensures him immediate entry into Heaven’” (freewebs.com, “The Muslim’s Hatred of Jews,” John Henry).

            In this article, let’s consider the present relationship of the Muslims and Jews.  One notable date for both Jews and Muslims is May 14, 1948.  This is the day that Israel declared independence as a nation.  The very next day, the neighboring Arab states invaded Israel.  Since then, there has been what is referred to as “The Arab-Israeli Conflict.”  In an article entitled, “Arab-Israeli Conflict,” at www.wikipedia.com, we have the following explanation of this conflict.

 

“…refers to the political tensions and open hostilities between the Arab people

and the Jewish community of the Middle East that have lasted for over a century.   

Some trace the beginning of the conflict to large–scale Jewish settlement in Pales-

tine, especially after the establishment of the Zionist movement, which intensified

with the creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948.  Others see it as a part of

Arab nationalism, whose central premise is that the peoples of the Arab world,

from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea, constitute one nation bound together

by common linguistic, cultural, religious, and historical heritage.  Territory regard-

ed by the Jewish people as their historical homeland is regarded by the Pan-Arab movement as historically belonging to the Palestinian Arabs, and in the Pan-Islamic context, in territory regarded as Muslim lands.  The conflict, which started as a

political and nationalist conflict over competing territorial ambitions following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, has shifted over the years from the large scale re-

gional Arab-Israeli conflict to a more local Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though the

Arab world and Israel generally remain at odds with each other over specific

Territory.”

 

It is true that the fighting that exists in that region is predominantly between regional nations, but the other Muslim nations are also extremely interested in the conflict and help fund many of the efforts of the fighting Muslim nations.

            We hear about this conflict often in the news.  We also hear of something that is referred to as “The Two-State Solution.”  The two-state solution involves Israel’s existence in the region as a nation and Palestine’s existence as a nation in the same region.  The article from Wikipedea continues with this commentary:

 

“Many attempts have been made to broker a two-state solution, involving the

creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside an independent Jewish

state or next to the State of Israel (after Israel's establishment in 1948). As recent-

ly as 2007, a majority of both Israelis and Palestinians, according to a number

of polls, prefer the two-state solution over any other solution as a means of re-

solving the conflict.  Moreover, a considerable majority of the Jewish public

sees the Palestinians' demand for an independent state as just, and thinks Israel

can agree to the establishment of such a state.  A majority of Palestinians and

Israelis view the West Bank and Gaza Strip as an acceptable location of the hypo-

thetical Palestinian state in a two-state solution.  However, there are signify-

cant areas of disagreement over the shape of any final agreement and also re-

garding the level of credibility each side sees in the other in upholding basic commitments.”

 

The issues that have to be hammered out between Israel and Palestine are numerous.  Mutual recognition, borders, security, water rights, control of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, Palestinian freedom of movement, and the issue of refugees are just a few of them.

            Another problem that is faced in the region is the fractured state of the Muslim world in the region.  Three major forces are present in the region.  One of them is Hezbollah.  This is a Shi’a Muslim militant group and political party based in Lebanon, a country that borders Israel to the north.  Its leaders were inspired by the Ayatollah Khomeini.  This group pushed the Jews out of Lebanon as a prelude to Israel’s final obliteration.  There are two groups that are in opposition to one another in Palestine itself:  Fatah and Hamas.  These two groups were fractured in The Palestinian Civil War.  This ruptured the Palestinian Authority apart in 2007.  Fatah is located in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza strip.  These three groups not only oppose Israel, they also oppose one another.  Therefore, it is very difficult to negotiate terms of any sort for a two-state solution.

            The reality is that the Muslim world does not really want a two-state solution.  Their only solution is the defeat and destruction of the Jewish nation.  They believe that Israel is a stain on their land.  They believe that Israel as the occupying nation of their land must be wiped off the map.  This is why Israel lives in constant fear.  This is why Israel has a very strong military.   This is why Israel responds quickly to every attack on its land.  They know the Muslims view them as “The Little Satan” that needs to be removed from the earth.

            Sadly, the tension between Jews and Muslims dates back to the time of Abraham.  Abraham had two sons:  Ishmael through Hagar (Gen. 16:1-16) and Isaac through Rebecca (Gen. 21:1-3).  Hagar was cast out of the home for a brief time when she was pregnant with Ishmael.  When the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain in Shur, he prophesied of the struggles to come between Ishmael and his brethren.  “And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.  And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand shall be against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of his brethren” (Gen. 16:11-12).  The descendants of Ishmael are a wild and difficult people.  They war with others and they war among themselves.  Peace does not seem to be word that is in their vocabulary.  Will a peaceful solution every be found between the Muslims and the Jews.  It is extremely doubtful.