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The struggle over Israel/Palestine is not just another contest by competing nationalisms or an instance of geopolitical competition. It is also about control of sacred territory that involves local Jews, Muslims, and Christians as well as worldwide faith communities, each with their own interests and stake in what transpires.
This balanced introduction to a complex subject presents the multiple positions within the great monotheistic traditions. It demonstrates that the secular discourses in the public square concerning ownership privileges, historical precedence, political rights, and justice that have allegedly replaced religious claims actually coexist with, and often complement, the theological. It explores the century-long tangle of secular and theological debates about Israel's legitimacy. Whether readers support a Jewish state or are resolutely opposed, the serious and substantial scholarship of this well-reasoned and innovative book will contribute to a nuanced and better-informed understanding of this persistent issue that has entered its second century on the international agenda.
List of contents
Introduction: From Theological to Secular Claims.- Part I: Secular Claims.- Chapter 1: Conquest, Treaties and Self-Determination.- Chapter 2: From Discovery to Rediscovery.- Chapter 3: Possession and Dispossession through Labor and Purchase.- Chapter 4: History as Legitimacy.- Part II: Theological Claims.- Chapter 5: Judaism; A Multiplicity of Interpretations.- Chapter 6: Christianity; A Kaleidoscope of Theologies.- Chapter 7: Islam: Encountering a Contemporary Challenge.- Part III.- Chapter 8: Concluding Reflections.
About the author
S. Ilan Troen is Lopin Professor of Modern History Emeritus at Ben-Gurion University, Israel, Stoll Family Professor in Israel Studies Emeritus at Brandeis University, USA, and founding director of the Israel Studies centers at both institutions. He is Founding Editor of the journal Israel Studies, and 2023 recipient of the Association for Israel Studies “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Summary
The struggle over Israel/Palestine is not just another contest by competing nationalisms or an instance of geopolitical competition. It is also about control of sacred territory that involves local Jews, Muslims, and Christians as well as worldwide faith communities, each with their own interests and stake in what transpires.
This balanced introduction to a complex subject presents the multiple positions within the great monotheistic traditions. It demonstrates that the secular discourses in the public square concerning ownership privileges, historical precedence, political rights, and justice that have allegedly replaced religious claims actually coexist with, and often complement, the theological. It explores the century-long tangle of secular and theological debates about Israel’s legitimacy. Whether readers support a Jewish state or are resolutely opposed, the serious and substantial scholarship of this well-reasoned and innovative book will contribute to a nuanced and better-informed understanding of this persistent issue that has entered its second century on the international agenda.
