Quote:anti-Jewish attitudes have been part of the fabric of the Middle East for many centuries.
actually not really.
jews, as well as christians, played an important role in the islamic empires, in trade and administration.
ppl sometimes refer to the "special tax" (i dont know the exact word of it) non-muslims had to pay when they talk about anti-jewish sentiments.
but actually it was the same amount muslims had to pay as a religious duty (charity).
i dont know how it was percieved by non-muslims, but i guess they didnt really enjoy it, since, well, no one likes taxes.
however, anti-zionism played a very big role in the last decades in the ideological construction of panarabism.
i think destruction of Israel was maybe the only thing that could get all the members of the Arab League to agree with eachother.
now most arab countries recognized the legitimate existence of Isreal ( i know Iran didnt, i dont know who else ... maybe saudi arabia ... not sure), but the pro-palestinian stance in the conflict is still something that "unites" them.
thats what i think.
now, has anyone read, or heard of, that book :
"The Rape of Palestine," by William Ziff, first published in 1938 by Argus Books in the US.
i didnt read it, but i read a short summary here
http://www.twf.org/News/Y1998/JewsArabs.html
what are your thaughts about this book ?