Because of the recent Israeli-Palestinian crisis, I was having a conversation about this matter with my Malay-Muslim friend. As a non-Muslim, I was trying to better understand how the Muslims feel towards this whole conflict.
Ahmad: Israel's army has killed many Palestinian children. Like many Muslims worldwide, we are very concerned about this. We want Israel to stop the killing.
Me: Me. War is ugly, bro. Do you have any opinions about Black September?
Ahmad: What is Black September?
Me: It was an incident in 1970, where the king of Jordan, a Muslim, ordered his army to slaughter over 20,000 Palestinians who he thought were trying to take over Jordan to form their own country. His army was commanded by a Pakistani, who later on went to become President Zia of Pakistan. Any thoughts of that?
Ahmad: Very tragic too. Lots of Palestinians dead.
Me: Yeah. But why hardly any Muslims protested. They don't seem to protest much when it is Muslims killing Muslims. They only make more noise when it is Israelis killing Muslims.
Ahmad: Israel is carrying out genocide!!
Me: 185 dead considered a genocide, but 20,000 killed not genocide?
Ahmad: *muted silence*
Me: The Palestinian population has more than doubled since 1970 in spite of the war and casualties. What kind of genocide is that?
Ahmad: The Israelis took the Palestinians' homes. The Palestinians were here first.
Me: And before the Palestinians, the Byzantines and Romans were here. And before the Romans, the Greeks and the Macedonians, and before them, the list goes on and on. There is no rule in history that says the land belongs to the very first tribe to plant its flag.
Ahmad: Jerusalem is holy to the Muslims.
Me: Jerusalem is also holy to the Jews and the Christians. Under Israel, Muslims can keep their mosques. Under the Jordanians, from 1948 - 1967, all the synagogues in East Jerusalem were destroyed. Jews were also barred from visiting their shrines. Christians are treated as second class citizens and forced to study the Koran. Under Israel, no one is forced to study Judaism. Muslims are still allowed to visit Al Aqsa mosque and other mosques.
Ahmad: *changes the conversation*
Maybe some of the bros out there can educate me more about the Muslim view of Israel and Jerusalem.
Tony
TRS Contributor