The upsurge in Islamic Fundamentalism throughout the Arab world has had a profound effect not only in the Occupied Territories, but on Arabs living in Israel itself. Israeli Arabs do not, by definition, share the basic ideology which lays out the foundation of the Israeli state. Spiritually, two socio-religious forces are in permanent competition for the souls of the people, established Islam, which enjoys the backing and financial wherewithal of the state, and popular Islam, which is more structurally amorphous at the base, but lurks on the horizon as a viable alternative. As popular Islam leads the impetus for spontaneity of the masses, it is the natural constituency of the fundamentalists. Muslim Fundamentalism in Israel studies the foundations, ideological and organizational, of the movement which has created a new and important dimension to the already complex Arab-Israeli conflict.

This book provides an in-depth account and analysis of Islamic fundamentalism today, and how it has an impact on Israel's relations with the Arab and Islamic worlds. In light of recent events, the book is important for the whole Western world, which now confronts revivalist Islam, both in the Middle East and Europe itself, and even in such far-flung fragments of European civilization as the United States and Australia. This book should be of great help for the West in developing a proper understanding of, and a strategy for dealing with, this movement. Co-published with the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

Islam is the religion of the majority of Arab citizens in Israel and since the late 1970s has become an important factor in their political and socio-cultural identity. This leads to an increasing number of Muslims in Israel who define their identity first and foremost in relation to their religious affiliation. By examining this evolving religious identity during the past four decades and its impact on the religious and socio-cultural aspects of Muslim life in Israel, Muhammad Al-Atawneh and Nohad Ali explore the local nature of Islam. They find that Muslims in Israel seem to rely heavily on the prominent Islamic authorities in the region, perhaps more so than minority Muslims elsewhere. This stems, inter alia, from the fact that Muslims in Israel are the only minority that lives in a land they consider to be holy and see themselves as a natural.

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This is a new edition of a classic and highly controversial book that examines the history and consequences of Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel. Fully updated, with new chapters and a new introduction by Norton Mezvinsky, it is essential reading for anyone who wants a full understanding of the way religious extremism has affected the political development of the modern Israeli state. Acclaimed writer and human rights campaigner Israel Shahak was, up util his death in 2001, one of the most respected of Israel’s peace activists – he was, in the words of Gore Vidal, ‘the latest – if not the last – of the great prophets.’ Written by Shahak together with American scholar Norton Mezvinsky, this books shows how Jewish fundamentalism in Israel, as shown in the activities of religious settlers, is of great political importance. The authors trace the history and development of Jewish fundamentalism. They place the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin in the context of what they see as a tradition of punishments and killings of those Jews perceived to be heretics. They conclude that Jewish fundamentalism is essentially hostile to democracy.