What is the source of Islamic hostility against the United States and does its policy in the Middle East have a part in it? Three speakers, representatives of the Muslim elite from both sides of the Green Line, present three different explanations for the phenomenon. At least one of them places the blame on Israel's role in the region
Vared Levy-Barzilai
The terrorist attack on the United States on September 11 and the blaming of
Islamic terrorist organizations have sown great confusion among Muslim intellectuals
in Israel and the territories. The embarrassment increased against the background of the spontaneous looks of joy
in the streets of Ramallah and East Jerusalem which were interpreted as an expression of popular identification with
the act of terrorism. At once Islam was seen as the enemy of the free world and its representative
On earth, the United States, and various experts were mobilized to describe and analyze the
His violent and murderous nature throughout history. increased to do the journalist
The respected American, Tom Friedman, who claimed in the "New York Times" that no
Less than half of the world's Muslims support the terrorist attacks of the type that occurred
on September 11.
No wonder there are Muslim speakers on both sides of the line
The Greens mobilized for an overall defense whose main
Condemnation of the terrorist attack against the United States,
Rejecting the identification between her and the resistance
the Palestinian for the Israeli occupation and an attempt to purify
the name of Islam as a whole. in a mixture of
Political, economic, social reasons
And theologians the speakers tried to pour out an understanding
In the burst of unimaginable terror and explain the source
The overwhelming hostility of Islamic elements
to the United States.
The three speakers in this article represent three different perceptions among the elite
The Muslim in Israel and the Territories: the former sees the source of evil in the conflict
the regional between Israel and the Palestinians, the latter focuses on its policy
The global of the United States and the third indicates insane margins
In Islam, foreigners are alien to its essence and do not represent it.
1 Middle East Thesis: The Israeli Occupation Sheikh Abdullah Nimr
Darvish, the founder of the Islamic movement in Israel, offers to President Bush, before
that he starts a war, to sit down and take stock. "First he does an investigation
thoroughly of all his intelligence agents for their negligence", he says,
"Then he will take the time and courageously ask himself this question, which is
The question of questions: what really makes so many people hate you so much
United States?"
And what is the answer?
"America brings it upon itself, first of all by encouraging the
The Israeli occupation in an unprecedented way. This is the heart of the matter. And in this too
that it encourages totalitarian regimes in Arab countries. like what she did with
Iran. Its foreign policy is stupid, outrageous, arrogant, and causes
People hate her."
How did the United States hurt Muslims?
"Is this naivety or what? Who doesn't know? It attacked many countries. brings up
and overthrows regimes according to its interests, and harms the entire Arab world. She
Destroyed Iraq for Israel. It destroys the Palestinians for
Israel. Why talk only about the Muslims' hatred of the United States? America
She is the one who sends a message of hatred to the entire Arab world. She hasn't been for many years
fair to him. Its unilateral stance on the side of the Israeli occupation
Hate. Hate is born of hatred."
Millions of Muslims in the world live with the feeling that America hates them?
"for sure. what a question. Who else treats the Arab nation this way?"
You can name a few countries that have caused injustices throughout history
And considerable damage to the Arabs, such as Britain or France. we did not saw
Islamic organization for such mass terrorist attacks against them.
"I am very glad that you raised this question. Because this is exactly the proof.
The Arabs are cultured. They know how to forgive and forget. They reached independence
political Colonialism is over. They reconciled. they forgave Recently
I read an exciting article about an encounter between a British jailer and an Egyptian prisoner.
The British asked him, 'Do you remember the torture I tortured you?'
And the Egyptian said to him, 'Remember. dont forget'. The warden asked him, 'So how am I?
can come to your house without fearing for my life?' The Egyptian answered him, 'In a moment
You gave up control over me, returned to your home and let me return to my home, more
We are not enemies.
History does not inspire hatred in my heart, but I see it as a lesson that you
And we studied so as not to return to those dark days.''
But there is no need to go as far as the relations between Egypt and Great Britain. To Sheikh Abdullah
Nimer Darwish, 54 years old from Kfar Qasim, had his own dialogues with prison guards.
In the late seventies he was the spiritual leader of a group of returning Muslims
In the answer called "The Jihad Family". The movement advocated the establishment of a state
Islamic Arab Palestine and armed struggle. For this purpose, they started saving
Weapon. The Israeli security establishment exposed them in 81, all members
were arrested and sent to prison.
In prison, there was a turning point in Nimar Darvish's world view. When he was released, he was
Subscribed and finished with him to abandon the way of the armed struggle. Instead, he opened
in extensive public activity. He united and concentrated Islamic organizations around him
who engaged in religious study and conversion. He founded charity and aid committees
to the needy He concentrated on religious, educational, community and political activity,
while drawing his inspiration from the Muslim Brotherhood movement. it was
The initial infrastructure from which the Islamic movement in Israel was born and established.
Sheikh Abdullah headed it until in 98 he transferred the position
For his replacement, Ibrahim Sarsour.
Nimer Darvish has been considered one of the most dominant figures for years
in the politics of the Arabs in Israel. He has an extensive network of contacts with
Israeli leaders, and he is perceived by the Arab public as someone who uses connections
the goddess to be good to him. His constant slogan for years was: "If
The state is not ready to help us, we will help ourselves." Traffic
The Islamic under his leadership raised funds from Western donations in Israel and abroad.
With these funds, kindergartens, clinics and libraries were opened, roads were paved
In Arab settlements, work camps were held as aid to the community, given
Loans and aid grants to families in need.
Since the "lesson" he learned in the Israeli prison, he opposes the solution in my way
violence. He leads a moderate line, talks about coexistence, supported the peace process
And went against the radical faction in his movement, which had split in the meantime. "There is a battle
The Jews are secular people who accept the person, but do not accept the
the god And among the Muslims there are religious people who worship God and not
They accept the person", he says. "A large part of the problems in the world, in all
parties, stems from a distorted interpretation that people give to religious principles."
How did you feel when you saw the damage to the Twin Towers and the Pentagon building?
How do you, as a Muslim cleric and leader, live with this?
"I am amazed by this question. How do I live with it? Why don't you ask how?
I live with the murder of 1,000 Palestinians and the injury of 1,500?
The Israeli media cooperate with the Sharon government. This is how I live with
It. Where is the leftist media pursuing justice? The Israeli left already
Ashamed to talk about the end of the occupation. And you journalists disappeared. You shut up.
You should be ashamed as well."
I was going to ask how you live with Muslims murdering thousands of people
in the name of the Muslim religion.
"Of course I can't accept that. What is it to kill in the name of religion?
the muslim? There is no such thing. They didn't do it in the name of religion. do it
Maybe in the name of Satan. or in the name of their dark head. But tell me, in whose name
Are Palestinian children murdered? In the name of the State of Israel and its security? There is religion
Like this, new? I haven't heard of her. There is a God in whose name they are murdered
Palestinian babies? I haven't heard of him. The three Jewish orphans
of the murdered mother, and the five Palestinian orphans in Gaza, these eight
The occupation will be brought before a higher court, they will ask why they murdered
them".
On September 11, more than 7,000 people were murdered in the Twin Towers
and in the Pentagon, by an Islamic terrorist group.
"I know. And I think it's time for soul-searching for everyone. Also for the president
United States. America has not learned its lesson. She is still on her period
colonialism. Israel too. This is where it all starts. until it's over,
Nothing will end."
And that justifies terrorism?
"God forbid. All terrorism is wrong in my view. First of all, as a person, my heart is with people
The innocent citizens, always. My heart goes out to the innocent American victims
and with their families. They did no harm to anyone. They didn't deserve it. But so be it
Obviously I am not ready to distinguish between types of terrorism. Terrorism is terrorism
Terror: the terror of the Israeli occupation, and the terror that murdered the Jewish mother of
The three little children, and the terror of the Twin Towers".
And you feel the same pain and the same identification in all cases?
"When I saw the body of the Jewish woman, and that they were carrying a baby in their hands
Hers is three months old, my heart is broken. Who caused the murder of this mother? It
Heinous murder. But right next to the pain, the question also arises, who makes us create
Such a long line of orphans and widows? who will? what? This is the occupation policy
the Israeli one. Always the same answer. There is no other way."
So you don't justify terrorism, but you understand it.
"I have already said that all terrorism is wrong in my view."
You find a direct connection between the Israeli occupation, terrorism against Israel and terrorism
Bin Laden's against the United States?
"Until now we don't know for sure if it's bin Laden. if it is him
His ideology is known. He sees the United States as an occupier
The holy places in Mecca, because of its takeover by Saudi Arabia. He also sees
In the United States, a country that assists Israel in occupying the holy places
in Jerusalem That's what he claims. That's how he thinks."
And what do you think?
"Even if I don't accept the acts of terrorism, I think there is a connection. I read
In a very fundamental way all Islamic interpretation throughout the Arab world.
I am also researching this, for ten years I have talked with dozens of leaders,
And academics, and politicians, also in Arab countries. I asked the same question: if
Israel will return to the '67 borders, will there be an end to the conflict and terrorism? the majority
The overwhelming say, yes. If Israel does it and there will be treatment in a way
culturally on the issue of refugees, there will be an end to the story".
That is, there is no hatred for the United States that does not directly stem from its support
In Israel?
"The argument against the power that America represents is familiar to me. The whole story with
Anti-modernity and anti-globalization. I think there is no connection. There is power too
in Europe. Russia also has power. Also for the UK. Also to France. And what about
Arab regimes? Is there no power there? They have the most power. what are they
Chatting."
But you yourself cited America's global foreign policy as one
The reasons for hatred.
"There is always more than one party. The reality is complex. But we need to
Be able to isolate the main thing. the heart of the matter. The heart was
And the blind American support for the Israeli occupation remains. Terrorism is rampant
And no one stops him. The threat is growing, all over the world. the food
What feeds terrorism is the Israeli occupation. If the injustice will stop, and it will come
The end of the occupation, you and I and the Americans will stand on one front in the war against
Terrorism".
2
The Global Thesis: The Third World is Revolting
in an attempt to minimize the image damage caused by the expressions of joy
Palestinians in East Jerusalem, organized by the Palestinian Authority signed on
petition. It expressed solidarity with the American public and formulated a request no
To blame all the Palestinians who are shocked by the criminal act because of a handful
Young people who expressed joy over the terrorist attacks. About 50 people signed the petition
Palestinian spirit. Dr. Salim Tamri was one of them.
Tamri, born in Jaffa, sociologist, lives in East Jerusalem and lectures
at Bir Zeit University. He is considered one of the most important scientists in the public
the palestinian He was a member of the Palestinian delegation that participated in the multilateral talks
in the discussion of the refugee question. Temari also participated in meetings of intellectuals
Israelis and Palestinians that took place this summer.
This year he spent a few months in Manhattan, where he taught as a visiting lecturer at the university
New York. From his room at the university he watched the Twin Towers every evening.
Because of this, he says, he experienced the shock of the attack personally
most. He was shocked, and felt sadness for days.
Contrary to the position of Nimar Darvish, Temari thinks there is no similarity and there is not
Connection between the attacks in the United States and what the Israeli-Arab conflict is.
"The Palestinian violence and the manifestations of terrorism against Israel are a direct result of
The Israeli-Palestinian struggle. Terrorism in New York is different. He is plotting
global. More precisely, a product of uncontrollable rage against the policy
United States Global. And it would be a mistake to reduce it to dimensions
of the conflict in the Middle East".
What is the source of this uncontrollable rage?
"The global policy of the United States has raised masses of people against it
in the world The hatred of the Arabs for Americans is not greater than the hatred that exists
towards them anywhere else in the world. All over the third world there is anger and hostility
Many towards the United States. In South America there is. in India, China. It is not
Something that is exclusive to Muslims or Arabs."
But those who carried out the attack were Muslims.
"Right. But there are pantheistic groups in Europe and South America as well. and me
Not convinced that among the Arabs there is more hatred for America than in the region
Other conflicts, such as China or Serbia, for example."
How do you analyze the roots of this hatred?
"It's very simple. Attacked countries develop resentment and hostility towards
the attackers In Iraq, for example, which is still under siege, it was by all accounts
A wild and excessive attack."
Saddam Hussein developed nuclear weapons and threatened to use them.
"Right. But Israel also threatens the Middle East with the use of weapons
Nuclear, although in a more sophisticated way than Iraq, because it does not admit that it exists
her. In any case, many in the Arab world have the feeling that America is marking itself
Attack targets in the Arab and Muslim world. It was the same in Serbia."
The United States led a coalition of many countries there. They all blamed
Serbia is trying to exterminate a people in Kosovo.
"I'm not saying there was no reason for the attack. But the United States has
Double standards. Saddam Hussein didn't do anything to Kuwait that Israel didn't
did in Palestine In both cases they occupied land, used a massive weapon
and killed civilians. I understand that in your eyes Israel and Iraq are very different. but
Their actions in the field are quite similar."
So even though you find no connection or similarity between the terrorism against Israel and
Bin Laden's terrorism, we still came, once again, to a conflict
Israeli-Palestinian.
"There is no doubt that the double standards that the United States practices according to Israel
Compared to her attitude towards the Arab countries, they are an important cause of anger and hatred. between countries
The alliance and the rest of the Western powers and Israel have a cultural and mental closeness,
Which does not exist with Arab countries. The United States considers Arab countries but
And only tactical allies that serve its interests to a point. She
allows herself to mark them as targets, according to what she defines 'enemy', in a way
that she would never drive in Israel or any other western country. the atmosphere
around its ongoing alliance with Israel, and the arming of the Israeli army by
The United States is creating a breeding ground for terrorist acts against it."
Is America actually being punished for its good relations with Israel?
"Maybe. And she may have to reconsider her position. the scenario
This already exists in the line of thinking of some of the decision makers at the top
the american Powell, for example. Along this line she will become a fair broker,
and will make the necessary adjustments for its position to be less one-sided. to the Israelis
There's no reason to panic about it, because eventually it will too
for their benefit. It will work to the advantage of both sides, reduce terrorism, and bring the
The conflict ends faster."
So the close relationship between the United States and Israel is nevertheless, in your opinion,
The main cause of the act of terrorism in New York?
"Definitely. Why are you surprised?"
Because at the beginning of your speech you said that there is no reason to assume that Muslims hate you
The United States more than other people in other parts of the world.
"Maybe I was misunderstood. I said that many in the world hate America.
But there is certainly a specific reason for the Arab hatred of America, and it is him
The double standard she practices in the Arab world and in Israel. And I said it creates
fertile ground for terrorist operations. Bin Laden and his ilk exploit the hatred
to modernity and xenophobia, and use them as a tool. He also uses
for his needs in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
There is a feeling in the Muslim world that the West is invading our lives and undermining our values
our morals. In some Arab countries there is great fear of this threat,
which is represented by the United States. But who thinks that Bin Laden represents what?
Rob, wrong."
Thomas Friedman of the "New York Times" thinks that more than half of Muslims
They secretly support such an action.
"It's an invention. He did not conduct a study or survey among the Muslims of the world.
As far as I know, most Muslims, even very religious ones, including these
Those who are threatened by modernism and hate the United States, will not be swept away
to bin Laden-type extremism. I don't know what Friedman is relying on.
I believe that this is a handful, a very small extreme minority."
What will happen after the Israeli-Arab conflict ends? What will the world unite around?
the muslim?
"You have a prejudice about Islam that it must fight against something. It is not
so. And what was before the State of Israel? Wasn't there Islam? There were no entries
Muslims? Muslim lifestyle? Muslims are not obligated to hate
someone. They will then begin to deal with adapting to the modern world. No
They will have a choice."
Maybe this is the real story? Maybe the Muslim world simply prefers to fight
in Israel and hate the United States and take time, provided that he is not forced
To deal with the thing that scares him the most - the modern world?
"It's a psychological element that exists. There is no reason to deny it. There are several
Underground currents that drive processes, not one. There is an aspect of
injured honor; There is a feeling here of a crusade against the Muslims; There is the standard
The American Double; And there is anti-modernity. For all this, unfortunately,
Innocent citizens pay the price."
3
The irrational thesis: A handful of lunatics
Dr. Mahmoud Yazbek from Nazareth, a lecturer in the Middle East department at the university
Haifa, staying for a research year at Oxford University. Research topic
His: The ancient history of Jaffa. The image of the plane penetrating the towers
The twins caught him visiting a fellow professor on campus. in minutes
The first ones, he says, like everyone else, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Then he got a terrible headache and could barely open his eyes.
"What I felt, it's hard for me to describe. severe shock At first it's level
Visually, you watch the horror over and over and the mind refuses to grasp. but
Later, when I started to understand what really happened, that thousands of innocent people
Being killed is an even more horrible feeling. You suddenly feel what life is like
Becoming cheap in the eyes of others, I have no words to describe it."
Yazbek heard that there are intellectuals in the Arab world who do not agree with
The attacks but can understand the motives. He was horrified. "I can not
to understand. very sorry. My Islam does not allow such an act. garlic
Condition, under no circumstances, and for no reason."
How did you feel as a person and as a Muslim?
"shame. First of all, shame and sorrow. and anger. But more than that. Because I
Belonging to this group, the 'Muslim', I had question marks about them
People who did it. Do they even belong to Islam? Are they
Deserve to be called Muslims? Will these speak in my name and in the name of my religion? the mother
Can they even be part of my community? And my answer is clear: no.
Such people should be assigned from all levels of human society. goddess
People who distort the principles of Islam."
They act in the name of Islamic Jihad. They did not declare jihad on
Israel and America.
"There is no such thing. I don't know why the religious scholars don't come out and explain.
Once and for all this matter needs to be sorted out. The popular interpretation
And the universality of jihad is distorted. Incorrect. Jihad speaks first of all
about a struggle for self-improvement.
Jihad says: Take care to improve yourself, your life and the life of the community in it
You live. This is the highest and most important level of jihad. And this
The first interpretation! Then there is a secondary interpretation, for a situation of self-defense:
Only when you are attacked and threatened by danger, use all means to defend
about yourself. But the use of military means against thousands of innocent civilians
A crime that did not threaten anyone, under the guise of jihad, is a vile thing. the most
as low as can be. I see whoever did this as a handful of people
crazy no more than that. I don't understand their message either. What a message
It? Not political, not religious, not anything. Bin Laden's message is just that
- fear".
You say a bunch of crazy people. But the hatred for the United States surrounds the
Most of the Muslim world.
"This is true. But this does not mean that these millions will agree to commit a crime
such a. In the last twenty years, because of its support for Israel, countries
The alliance was formed in the mind of the Muslim nation as its enemy. there are not any
other thing. That's the reason. Of course the attack on Iraq in the Gulf War
added a new dimension, causing further extremism. before her standing to the side
Israel, not a single Muslim planned to carry out any attack against America. at all
There was no anti-American Muslim position back then."
Do you find a similarity or connection between the Palestinian terrorism directed against
Israel and Bin Laden's terrorist attacks?
"There is no such thing as Palestinian terrorism directed against Israel."
nothing?
"There is a struggle of a people for its freedom".
And this struggle does not include terrorist attacks against Israelis?
"Okay, but this is a completely different kind of terrorism. They were born from a legitimate and just struggle
All kinds of expressions and unacceptable things also developed from it."
And Bin Laden's terrorism?
"Maybe in some indirect way, which I don't understand, from the struggle
The Palestinian against Israel also developed a twisted course like that of Bin Laden.
Can be. It probably rests on the idea that the American conspiracy, according to
The Muslim perception of those people is to take over the Muslim world
through Israel. But it doesn't seem serious to me. After all, Europe conquered the
The Arab world and they didn't do anything like this to her. They could count on her even with a look
behind. And they didn't. This is something that was not in the history of Islam. there were
Peoples who fought for their freedom, like the Palestinian people. There were fights with weapons
And everything. There are radical groups everywhere. But when a nation fights for its freedom,
You can understand the motive. That's why the comparison doesn't seem very good to me. Baside that,
In my opinion, bin Laden's act, not only does not serve the interest
The Palestinian, he hurts the Palestinians."
how?
"The Palestinians have been waging a struggle for many years. They deserve all the credit for it
The end of the conflict, when it comes. The Arab and Muslim world, except for slogans
Beautiful, didn't help them in almost anything. Now, after such an attack, the borders
Get confused, because people don't distinguish between terrorism and terrorism. Suddenly it became
'The Muslim world' and that's it. That's how bin Laden's crazy act came about
to return the Palestinians back to the days when the Muslim world,
So to speak, fighting for them. And that's not the truth."
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