Why This Chinese Citizen Supports Israel
13 min read
Busting the mythical past of peace and tolerance in the Middle East.
“Jews were far more secure and better off under Islam than in Christian Europe.”
That kind of claim is often heard in the context of untangling competing narratives in the Arab-Israeli conflict. In a more targeted version, it is asserted that the advent of Zionism shattered tranquil relations between Jews and Arabs, triggering virulent antisemitism in a previously tolerant Middle East.
Are these claims true?
By 750 CE, within 118 years of Muhammad’s death, the Middle East was nearly entirely under Islamic rule. That is not to say that non-Muslims were eliminated or had no influence, but - much like Christianity in Europe and then America - Islam became a driving cultural force in the Middle East. Therefore, it is imperative for us to examine the traditions that shaped – and continue to shape – the relations between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East.
The entrance of Caliph Umar (581-644) into Jerusalem, 19th century colored engraving, via Wikipedia
Looking at Islamic sources gives us an idea of the initial phase of Jewish life under Arab Muslim rule. Bear in mind, even if the sources themselves are not 100% accurate, they represent the messages and narratives absorbed into much of Middle Eastern culture.
Sahih Bukhari, a collection of authoritative Muslim oral teachings, tells us:
Narrated Abu Huraira: While we were in the mosque, the Prophet came out and said, "Let us go to the Jews." We went out till we reached Bait-ul-Midras. [So it says in the source – clearly the Hebrew Beit Hamidrash; i.e., a house of learning or yeshiva.] He said to them, "If you embrace Islam, you will be safe. You should know that the Earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to expel you from this land. So, if anyone amongst you owns some property, he is permitted to sell it, otherwise you should know that the Earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle."
Leaving aside the odd claim that planet Earth belongs to Muhammad alongside Allah, this is a clear encapsulation of the precarious life of a Jew in Islamic lands ever since. How this expressed itself in the lifetime of Muhammad is detailed in Sirat Rasul Allah, a Muslim biography written by Ibn Ishaq (704-761 CE), which says, in part:
The apostle assembled the Jews in the marketplace and addressed them: 'Make profession of Islam before Allah punishes you as He has punished the Quraysh!'
...Then the Jewish tribe asked that the apostle of Allah should not shed their blood, but permit them to carry away as much of their property as their camels could bear. He consented and they loaded as many of their possessions as they could on their camels, even demolishing their houses that they might take away the thresholds. [Incidentally, the reference to taking “thresholds” gives the story some credibility, as it seems an extreme action to the author. Yet, it is likely a reference to Jews taking their mezuzahs, which may have been embedded in, or attached to, the doorpost in some way that prevented removal.]
A not-so-lucky tribe was Banu Qurayza. According to the Muslim sources, after the Jews had decided, “We shall never abandon the commandments of the Torah, nor substitute any others for them,” this happened:
…Trenches were dug in the marketplace. Then [Muhammad] sent for the men and had their heads struck off so that they fell in the trenches. They were brought out in groups, and among them was Kab, the chief of the tribe. In number, they amounted to six or seven hundred, although some state it to have been eight or nine hundred. All were executed.
One man turned to his people and said, “It matters not! By God's will, the children of Israel were destined for this massacre!” Then he seated himself and his head was struck off.
Then, the women and children were taken captive and distributed to the Muslims (with Muhammad getting one fifth for himself). One of the Jewish women, Rayhana, who became a slave to Muhammad replied to his offer of a formal marriage thus: “Allow me to remain your slave; it will be easier for me and for you.”
Sirat Rasul Allah details what happened when Muhammad took yet another Jewish woman hostage from the Khaybar region:
The apostle chose Safiya for himself. The other prisoners were distributed among the Muslims. Bilal brought Safiya to the apostle, and they passed the bodies of several Jews on the way. Safiya’s female companions lamented and strewed dust on their heads. When the apostle of Allah observed this scene, he said, “Remove these she-devils from me!”
It was inevitable that a culture infused with Islam would be influenced by the reported behavior of Muhammad, whom Muslims call “the perfect man” and a model of morality. Naturally, this has impacted the lives of Jews in the Islamic world, whether in the form of systemic discrimination, normalized prejudice or outright violent brutality.
A valid observation could be made at this point noting that Islam was founded in an extremely tribal milieu, intertwined with local power politics. Tolerance was not a popular virtue anywhere in the early 7th century. The relations between Jews and Arabs, specifically Muslim Arabs, might be better examined after Islam achieved dominance in the region and was no longer in a fight for survival.
Scholars in a library from the Maqama of Hariri manuscript. Courtesy Bibliothèque Nationale/Wikipedia
Unfortunately, the subsequent history does not look much better.
In the late 700s, Idris I oversaw the destruction of entire Jewish communities in Morocco. In the 12th century, the Almohads presented several Jewish communities with the classic choice between death and Islam – leading either to massacre or forced conversion. In the mid-1400s, massacres throughout Morocco most likely took the lives of thousands of Jews (the Fez Massacre, to name but one, put an end to the Jewish community in that major city). Moroccan Jews were again forced to choose between conversion to Islam and death from 1790 to 1792. In Marrakesh, more than three hundred Jews were murdered between 1864 and 1880.
Notably, when the Arab Muslim invasion of North Africa began in the 7th century, the Jews fought alongside – and even led at one point – the native Berber resistance to the Arab invaders. In other words, while Jews are called “colonists” in Israel, it bears remembering there were Jews in what are now called “Arab countries” before there were any Arabs there.
Similar massacres, synagogue destruction and forced conversions occurred repeatedly elsewhere in the Middle East as well, from Egypt to Syria to Iraq. It is worthwhile to focus in briefly on Yemen specifically, as the Jews there suffered what amounts to a localized Holocaust in terms of percentages. In 1679, Jews living throughout Yemen were expelled from their homes and sent to the barren Mawza region to die of exposure and lack of resources. When the Mawza Exile decree was eventually lifted one year later, up to two-thirds of the exiled Jews had already succumbed to the ordeal and those who survived were in poor health and homeless.
The Jews of Yemen faced various persecutions over the decades: forced conversions; torture and exile of community leaders; mass imprisonment; kidnapping of orphan children for conversion to Islam or slavery; and more.
I have not touched on lands conquered by Islam that are not considered Arab today. But I will mention one particularly brutal example, which actually took place in Europe. In 1066, an Arab mob in Granada, Spain, massacred 5,000 Jews and destroyed the Jewish quarter after crucifying the Jewish vizier, Yosef ibn Nagrela.
Even if we grant that the Jews suffered periodic persecution under Islamic rule, it is quite reasonable to ask the question: Compared to what? Naturally, the first parallel that comes to mind for Westerners is life in the European diaspora under Christendom, with its history of ghettoes, pogroms, Inquisitions, and the Holocaust.
A Jew and a Muslim playing chess in 13th century al-Andalus. El Libro de los Juegos, commissioned by Alphonse X of Castile, 13th century. Madrid
Yet, qualitatively, the situation of Jews under Muslims throughout the Middle East was not significantly different from that of Jews in Europe. Let’s not forget, we are talking about a period of 2,000 years and entire continents - there were good periods and bad periods, good rulers and evil rulers everywhere.
For example, England doesn’t historically seem like such an antisemitic hotbed to most people. Yet, King Edward I issued an order for the expulsion of all Jews from England in 1290. It was only in 1655 that Oliver Cromwell permitted them to return legally. From that point on, the Jews lived peaceful lives, though they faced official discrimination as second-class citizens – like the dhimmi status in peaceful Islamic lands – until the mid-1800s.
In Poland, which many Jews associate with rampant antisemitism, the 1264 Charter of Kalisz specifically secured Jewish rights, including protection from harm, property ownership, and freedom of religion. King Casimir III the Great (reigned 1333–1370) and subsequent Polish kings issued several additional decrees that granted Jews various rights in Poland, including legal protections that were lacking in other parts of Europe at the time. In fact, Poland became a refuge for Jews fleeing persecution elsewhere and a period of relative peace and prosperity ensued in what became the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until the mid-1600s.
Ukraine, another nation stained with bloody antisemitism, at one point issued currency with a Yiddish inscription on it. This occurred during the short-lived Ukrainian People's Republic of 1917-1920, following the collapse of the Russian Empire.
All that noted, we know that North Africa is often remembered fondly by Jewish emigrants who left the region in the 20th century. Can we so easily dismiss their experiences?
No, we cannot – nor should we. But we can certainly place them in historical context and note the quirks of human nature, as well.
As we mentioned, yes, there were golden eras in the history of Arab-Jewish relations. However, a claim put forward by some ardent anti-Zionists is that things were actually better for Jews in the land of Israel under Islam and before Zionism came on the scene. It is saying that Zionism changed the dynamic. And in that sense, they are correct, but only insofar as it introduced a Jew who fought back – not in terms of antisemitic attacks and persecution.
First, let’s begin with the basic fact that the Muslim Arab conquest of the land of Israel in 636-37 was a settler-colonial enterprise. And they are proud of it, calling it the “Palestine Conquest” - Fatah Filastin (yes, the same word Fatah, “Conquest”, is used as the name of the movement currently in charge of the Palestinian Authority). After the occupation, the majority of Christians in the land of Israel adopted Islam and Arabized and the building of new synagogues was banned.
With the construction of the Dome of the Rock in 691 and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 705, the Muslims established the Temple Mount as an Islamic holy site. Jews were banned from it for the next 1,000 years. Periodic social and economic discrimination in the following centuries caused substantial Jewish emigration from the land of Israel.
Other notable events under Muslim rule include:
That’s all before the Zionist movement as we know it was a thing.
Then there’s this inconvenient fact, which is worth noting even though it does relate to a time after the Zionist movement was already well established: there are more than a dozen Jewish communities in the land of Israel that were destroyed by Arabs before 1947. But not a single such Arab community.
This partial review is a corrective to manipulative misinformation promoted by anti-Israel terror-apologists on US campuses, in European streets, and in the international media. It is admittedly far from comprehensive. However, an honest and open-eyed review of Arab-Jewish relations can provide a new perspective on our history as Jews, on the Middle East generally, and on the State of Israel’s struggle for survival.
Of course, this does not mean that Israel is always right. Just a reminder that views on current events should be grounded in reality – however complex it may be.
Maimonides’ epistle to Yemen says it all.
Joseph Nasi and Samuel ibn Naghrillah, two Jews who rose to the top and wielded immense power in Muslim countries.
Can anybody name any Jew who rose to power in Christian countries?
There is also Samuel ibn Naghrillah, who was the Grand Vizier of the Muslim Kingdom of Granada.
He led Muslim armies into battle, governed the state of Granada in the name of the Sultan and was a very talented Hebrew poet.
He is, I would say, the greatest Hebrew poet of epic and war poetry.
On the other hand, there was a Jew, Joseph Nasi, the Duke of Naxos, who was an extremely talented man and a close friend of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
He used Muslim resources to gain revenge for the Jews by waging war against those Christian countries that had persecuted the Jews, namely, the Netherlands and Spain.
The Christians hated him and the Muslims loved him.
One more thing:
While Sahih Bukhari and Ibn Ishaq are important sources, the most important source is the Qur'an itself. I have read most of what the Qur'an says about the Children of Israel and the Jews, but I would love to see a follow up article that collects together these sections and summarizes them.
Only the Qur'an is the "literal word of Allah" and cannot be challenged and cannot be denied. The other sources can be and are dismissed by Muslims when they find it convenient to do so.
A very fine article. Thank you.
Your sentence: "Let’s not forget, we are talking about a period of 2,000 years and entire continents - there were good periods and bad periods, good rulers and evil rulers everywhere." is key to understanding the history. What can we say about the good rulers and the evil rulers? What were the factors that went into making an evil ruler? Was it religious ideology or was it just individual bad characters?
Your section about Muhammad makes it clear that Jews have been seriously impacted by those who are most influenced by Muhammad, the people we now call "Islamists". Can the opposite be said? There were good times; can we say that these times were more secular, perhaps in both the Jewish and Muslim communities? What is the key to the "good times"?
Great article with an important message. The Islamic Conquest of Israel was settler-colonialism, producing an apartheid regime where the ancient and indigenous Jewish minority were reduced to a systemically oppressed minority in their own ancestral homeland. Zionism reversed this oppressive system and restored rights to the indigenous minority in their own ancestral homeland - no wonder the privileged oppressors raged when their Arab/Muslim privilege and power was challenged. Being Jewish in the Diaspora was difficult, as well: My grandparents spoke fondly of happy memories in Iraq, but the shadow of antisemitism and generational trauma lingered, and anti-Jewish racism and bigotry ultimately shattered naive dreams, forcing the Jewish communities to flee for their lives, back home to Israel
Many meforshim like Maharsha and Pele Yoetz say that Jews fared better in Muslim countries, however, no one ever said it was 100% ok. There were rough times.
The key to the article is this phrase:
It is saying that Zionism changed the dynamic. And in that sense, *they are correct, but only insofar as it introduced a Jew who fought back* – not in terms of antisemitic attacks and persecution.
So, you see, he accepts that before Zionism there was no *concept* of Jews fighting back. We never received a Mesorah to fight back. That is the important point. Otherwise, I don't challenge, nor no one challenges, that there were rough and tough times.
brilliantly said. Yaakov and Esav is the prototype for how we are meant to behave in galus, and yes we are still in galus. Fighting is an absolutely last resort and humility and peaceful diplomacy are what is needed in 100% of cases. Unfortunately we have lost all the humility now and diplomacy and instead we scream never again, i.e. we will ignore the Torah now and fight !!!
And to understand this from the Islamic perspective: Fighting is permitted (obligated) against those who fight against you and against those who have expelled you from your home.
Zionism also changed the dynamic by introducing the concept of a modern Jewish nation, something that is in contradiction with what Islam says about the destiny of the Jewish people.
Since we cannot change their religion, we need to pay more attention to what Muslims are obligated to do.
The claim that Jews never had a concept of fighting back is absolutely absurd.
I suggest you read the Bible and learn about Jewish holidays.
Hi @Ark
I don't really understand your comment, how can we compare the secular views of what happens today to the Holy Tanach, when wars were directed and fought by the extremely devote and according to the rules outlined in the Torah and decided by prophets. Maybe we're talking about different books? The Jewish People have never fought a war against their multiple sworn enemies that have tried to obliterate them from the face of the Earth since the destruction of the Temple 1956 years ago except for Bar Kochba, which was reversed and considered a mistake when Bar Kochba was exposed as a fake Messiah. We believe the next wars will be fought by Moshiach who will be a proven prophet and will restore not a secular state but the continuation of the Kingdom of David, as it was before, amen
One of my doctors is an Egyptian Jew. He has told me that his family's life in Cairo was nearly idyllic, and he has nothing but fond memories up until Nasser expelled all the Jews in the mid-1950s. I guess this is all possible, but then his family were very wealthy. I wonder if middle class or poor Jews in Egypt have similar memories.
If Jews, were in the Middle East, first, where did the Arabs come from?
sad reality no one talk about and Jews still kept staying where they were prosecuted I am an Iranian Jew in which my late father lost all of his wealth and land because of being jews or partner with Bahaii in 20th century and still where is the outrage. Anywhere these Islamic clergy or Muslim set their foot, they destroy it. Wait and see what will happen to Europe in few days and poor us Jews, the Chosen one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The word "goy" is racist
No problem with muslims or jews. I have problem with the word "goy". We cannot discribe the world as goy and non-goy. There are many different cultures around the world. We cannot divide it between jewish culture and not jewish culture. The world is so much bigger than that. Let's erase the word "goy" from our minds, pls
WOW!
Chosen for what? Thank you for exposing the truth surprised you made no mention of the 1929 massacre.
cont'd: People have difficulty in hating those who are nice to you and the more you know about a potential enemy, the better. Adam and Eve, knowledge is often said to be 'power'. Look at what that power has wrought even though they everything they needed. Cain and Abel, brothers waring and one killed out of jealousy. It wasn't about brothers as much as it was about people in general. How individuals and groups should behave toward each other lest one or more get hurt for nothing. The ten Commandments and Torah were "given" to Jews with the hope that if we modeled the lessons, the world would hopefully learn to do the same. That's what's meant 'light unto the nations'!
That you for adding some factual context to the issue. Unfortunately, though the two main parties know the truth, one chooses to ignore it and skew the facts to spread dissention. In addition, those outside those two groups choose to remain ignorant as it allows them to point fingers at an alleged boogeyman so no one pays attention to them. And, that further shows their ignorance because they too are being beset upon worldwide. Whether or not Hashem actually gave the bible to Moses, or some sages many years ago wrote it down as a primer could be open to discussion by some.
The "neshama" of the 'Old Testament' points to its genius regardless of how it was generated. Lessons abound therein! Abraham treating his visitors as honored guests.
I am non Jewish but is great of you to tell the truth, when in the West we’re told Islam is a peaceful religion. I support Israel in this War. No one talks about How long the others have been firing missles into Israel.
No country would put up with this type of
The West is afraid to insult or disagree with Islamists. The enemy senses this. Israel is standing for Western values. They should all get behind Israel.
Arab oil changed everything. With the wealth accumulated from oil sales and sympathetic antisemites they could build tunnels and store weapons to attack Israel. But tiny Israel despite fighting wars and terror, is a democracy and an example of what hard-working dedicated citizens can accomplish.
"qualitatively, the situation of Jews under Muslims throughout the Middle East was not significantly different from that of Jews in Europe"
The Jews who were expelled by the monarchs of England, France, Spain, and Portugal would beg to differ. As would the Jews burned at the stake, hanged, or beheaded in those countries and all over the New World. As would the Jews gassed by the Nazis.
And it needs to be noted that large numbers of Jews found refuge in the Ottoman Empire.
It also should be noted that the 7th century conquest of the Middle East by Arab Muslims prevented a planned genocide of Jews by the Eastern Roman Empire and the conquest of Spain in the next century put an end to the horrible persecution of the Visigoths.
We should also credit the Mamluks for permanently ending the presence of the genocidal Crusaders, and for previously handing the Mongols their first real defeat.
Muhsmmad Ali Pasha also ended the first Wahabi Saudi state; unfortunately it returned in the 20th century largely thanks to the British. It is the source for most Sunni Muslim extremism in the world today.
None of this excuses the abuses and murders described of course. But one must compare to the alternative which was usually even more horrific.
R' JB Soloveitchik himself said it was obvious that Zionism was the cause of the overwhelming hatred in the Arab world although of course it wasn't exactly a love-affair before Zionism. But let's be honest, Jews lived in Yemen and Iran and Iraq and all of these countries in large numbers before Zionism started. Now it's almost a joke to try to consider such a thing.