Do Palestinians and Muslims Hate Jews and Israelis?

Do Palestinians and Muslims Hate Jews and Israelis?

            No. This is the true but generalized answer. Palestinians (as well as other Muslim and Christian Arabs) do not hate Jews. Islam specifically honors Jews and Christians as “People of the Book,” (believing in the Torah and the New Testament- as do Muslims, although they believe some writings have been corrupted)  and their churches and synagogues are to be protected.

If God had not driven some people back by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, where God’s name is mentioned much, would have been pulled down and destroyed. God will certainly help those who help Him – God is All-Strong, Almighty.[1]

The Qur’an teaches many good things about Jews as well as Christians. (Click here to read a short but excellent article on the subject.) A lot of the negative verses about Jews in the Quran need to be placed in their historical context. In the 600’s AD the Prophet Muhammad ruled the city of Medina and the Muslims and Jews there were united in a war of self defense against Arab pagan tribes in Mecca. On several occasions the Jewish tribes betrayed the city, and Muhammad punished them for their treason. However, in general Jews and Christians are respected in Islam. One example from the Qur’an states,

            They are not all alike. Among the People of the Book there is an upright community who recites the revelation of God during the night and fall prostrate before Him. They believe in God and the Last Day, enjoin what is right and forbid what is evil, and vie with one another in good works. They are of the righteous. And whatever good they do, its reward will not be denied them. God knows those who fear [Him]”.[2]

      Though this ideal is not always realized in all Islamic countries, it does seem to be honored in Palestine. Before the birth of Zionism in the 1880’s Christians, Muslims and Jews in Palestine lived together in general harmony, both in separate communities and as neighbors. After Palestinians were expelled from their homes in what is modern day Israel they began to hate Israelis. Though some radical Muslim preachers will use Qur’anic verses out of context to justify destroying Israel and the West, this does not mean that Muslims hate Jews. It just means that politics and oppression have driven some people to use their religion as a weapon and a rallying cry. Much the same phenomenon can be seen in America where Islamophobia distracts Christians from preaching about Christ and drives them instead to deliver hateful sermons about Islam. However, though they generate a lot of media attention such radicals do not represent Christianity or the majority of Christians.

      Palestinians recognize the differences between Jews, Israelis and Israeli Settlers. I know a lot of Palestinians who have non-Israeli Jewish friends (from America or other countries), I also know a lot of Palestinians who have very close Jewish Israeli friends. The people Palestinians often hate are the settlers (although I have met people who had good relationships with a couple settlers- which I think is rare and surprised me). The settlers cross the armistice/green line/potential border to build illegal communities in the Palestinian West Bank. Hating the settlers has nothing to do with religion, but rather the fact that the settlers are stealing Palestinian land (and often assaulting Palestinians, burning their olive orchards, churches, mosques businesses and dumping their sewage down onto Palestinian villages). See If American Knew or Btselem- an Israeli human rights organization for more details.

Most Palestinians do not want to destroy Israel. They know that Israel is not going anywhere and many Palestinians have positive things to say about Israelis, their infrastructure and organization, good business ethnic, etc. It is the occupation that they hate, with all of its violence, negative impact on the economy, and lack of freedom. What Palestinians and many Israelis want now is to either divide the land to create two countries (Palestine and Israel) or to create one democratic state. They just want to live their lives in peace and provide security and better opportunities for the children.

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[1] 22:40

[2] 3:113-115