Syria's Mufti: Islam commands us to protect Judaism

long live the Assad regime . the best security for Israel.!!!!

The purpose of having a Jewish state is that we wouldn't have anymore to depend on anybody's "protection" but God's and tsahal. How many times didn't our protectors turn against the Jewish people (to start with paraoh)?

There is no such thing as 'political' Islam. Leaders just choose to politicize Islam for their own self interest. It slanders the religion, and makes the people of their country think that they are fit to lead. It's unfortunate, but true. And yes, despite the poll tax, Jews did live in Syria under the direct protection of the state. It's unfortunate that a 'democratically' run government in Israel can not do the same for the Palestinians (Christians/Muslims or otherwise).

Let's keep in mind this is what he said to a group of Americans. This often differs greatly to what he says to a group of fellow Arabs.

Its so nice to hear such words from a Syrian Mufti and hope the chief Rabbi also says something to bridge the gap between jews and muslims.... WAY TO GO

if you are so inclined to believe what is in bibilical text then explain , please why do Jews from lands of canaan, palestine, and modern day israel deserve less to be on these lands, than modern day arabs who were not here prior to abraham buying land in chevron, or king david in jerusalem and ashkelon

If this Mutfi of Syria is a man of his word and believes that Islam should protect Jews and other religions. Then he has found The GOD of Moses and the GOD of all of us. It is written that the Mother of Israel was from Syria and you will find that in all 3 religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

This is typical - big religious figures condemn violence, but they have no power... There have been major shiite religious leaders who condemn violence...and then the Iranian regime puts them under house arrest or something like that. At least what I hope will happen is that fervent Muslims will listen to him and become less likely to support the Arab regimes.

Award the Nobel Peace Prize to any Mufti or mullah who advocate peace, harmony, and cooperation. Do that and you'll change the psychological nature of Islam.

establishment & certainly didn't always live in peace with Jews & you know that well.There were times when Jews were tolerated but that could vanish in a second as happened thru'out history all over the Arab world. In pro-Nazi Iraq in WW2 before Israel's RE-establishment,Jewish men were tortured & many publicly hanged to the cheers of 1000s of Iraqi onlookers. In 'palestine' from 1920's on,Arab-Moslems slaughtered native Jews left,right & center pre-dating the nazis' Jewish genocide by 20+ years (e.g. the frightful Hebron & Safed massacres in 1929 where even children & old people of the ancient religious Jewish community who'd been living there long before Arabs settled there, were tortured (& many raped) before being cut to pieces). Thus your claim that Israel's establishment was the cause for 'increased fanatacism in the Moslem world' is utter nonsense. The cause is Moslem fanaticism which doesn't tolerate Jews or Christians governing lands of their own in Moslem-dominated areas

Arab-Moslems didn't always live in peace with Jews & you know that well. There were times when Jews were tolerated but that could vanish in a second as happened thru'out history all over the Arab world. In pro-Nazi Iraq during WW2 before Israel's RE-establishment, Jewish men were tortured & many publicly hanged to the cheers of 1000s of Iraqi onlookers. In 'palestine' from 1920's on,Arab-Moslems slaughtered native Jews left,right & center pre-dating the nazis' Jewish genocide by 20+ years (e.g. the frightful Hebron & Safed massacres in 1929 where even children & old people of the ancient religious Jewish community who'd been living there long before Arabs settled there, were tortured (& many raped) before being cut to pieces. Thus your claim that Israel's establishment was the cause for 'increased fanatacism in the Moslem world' is utter nonsense. The cause is Moslem fanaticism which doesn't tolerate Jews or Christians governing lands of their own in Moslem-dominated neighborhoods

I'm afraid he doesn't mentions Israelis, just Jews, and not those whol live outside of Syria, where they were pogrommed and terrorized, and their number is really in the hundreds in Aleppo, Homs and Damascus.

Yes, you can find anti-Jewish in the Koran if you want. You can find anti-Christian in the new testament if you look carefully. You can even find the image of moses on a pancake, if it is baked just right. Books, despite what fools say, are only books. It is not the book that makes a man good, but the man which makes the book good.

Why do you and your co-extremists find it funny / unacceptable that Israelis should live in a self-determined country? You accept of Palestinians (a loosely defined group with no separate language or culture from their co-religionists in neighbouring Jordan, for example) having a State. Why the double-standard? Israeli culture does not exist anywhere else. It is the norm all around the world for exiles to re-gather in their homeland once self-determination takes place. Why should you deny this to Jews accepting Israeli citizenship? What would your criteria be for someone to be given a theoretical Palestinian citizenship? As an Israeli Arab, you will know that your rights are better in Israel that in any other Arab State. Lebanon has a list of 70 professions you cannot join. Israel does not. I presume that?s why you live in Europe. Can you build wherever you like in Geneva? Who do you feel you are kidding by saying that Arab pogroms weren?t responsible for Arab Jews leaving?

THE PRESIDENT OF IRAN has statd many times he would like the destruction of Israel as have Nasrullah, and originally Abdul Nasser of Egyptian fame. Many Jews from Iran will tell you of persecution in that country, to present day.

Are you saying that in the 21st Century, what counts in terms of who lives where is how many suicide bombers you can muster? That takes precedent over historical ties to land?

A false idea that has gained currency is that of animosity between Jews and Muslims. Whatever the rights and wrongs of Israel-Palestine issue, there has never been enmity between the followers of two religions. Never in the history of Islam, has there been any persecution of Jews. During Muslim rule there have never been any pogroms, no ethnic cleansing, no massacres of Jews and no holocausts. In fact Golda Meir famously remarked that Muslim rule in Spain was the golden period for Jews. By portraying the fallout of political conflict of today as Jew-Muslim conflict, a wrong impression is being created that somehow Muslims have the same attitude towards Jews as Europeans Christian have had for centuries.

Ben, The dhimmis paid an alternate tax, not an extra tax. This alternate tax was specifically for the Christians and Jews for protection by the state from internal and external threats against them. At the end of the day, indeed, they paid less taxes than their Muslim counterparts.

A dhimmi (Arabic: ذمي? [ˈðɪmːiː], collectively أهل الذمة ahl al-dhimmah, "the people of the dhimma or pact of protection"; Ottoman Turkish & Urdu zimmi, "one whose zimma [responsibility of protection] has been taken") is a non-Muslim subject of a state governed in accordance with sharia law. The term connotes an obligation of the state to protect the individual,

I would not want to be under Moslem "protection". Far better to let Jews protect Jews in their own country. I don't know if the Mufti recognizes Israel as a Jewish state or not? If not he is much like the rest of the religious establishment of the Arab mid-east. Also, most Syrian Jews left some years ago, probably less that a few dozen.

He says his grandfather's partner was Jewish. So is that his mother's parents? If so, he's Jewish too!

The Mufti does not face a threat to his life, because his is expounding on one of the basic tenets of Muslim law. Muslims protect those who are not allowed to protect themselves. Ie., Jews and Christians, who are not allowed to take up arms, or law against any Muslim attacker. That's status quo ideology, hardly some progressive liberal thought. Moreover, realize that protection doesn't mean peace. It means ruler and subject, with the Muslims being the rulers and the Jews in this case, being the subjects. One should also remember that the 'subjects', while protected, are only protected as long as they obey their masters.

Arab Israelis are allowed to vote. They are allowed to run for any office in the land. They are allowed to build mosques of all sizes, and repair them. They are allowed to join the IDF. They are not disproportionately taxed. They have the right to take a case to any Israeli court, to testify, to act as legal counsel for any party. They have the right to protection under Israeli law, and not beholden to any individual tribal leader. Such protection is extended to honor of self, no institutionalized debasement as is under the Dhimmi system. Unfortunately, none of these were available to Jews or Christians.

Jews did live generally in peace with the Moslems like in Mesopotamia / Iraq. The problems began with the establishment of Israel and also increased fanatacism in the Muslem world.

You asked some pointed questions, have you gotten any responses that answered them yet?

References to the Koran are mildly interesting, but there are no texts there which equal the Torah for God-approved wholesale mass killing of other peoples. On a more practical level, how about some self-criticism: How are Palestinian Israelis treated? What is their status in a so-called "Jewish Democracy"? (Homwework: Please explain how this is not a contradiction of terms in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious state.)

"Currently the Jews are oppressing Christians and Moslems " Madame, For virtually all known history both Christians and Muhammadans oppressed and killed Jew all over the world. Today they still do this though with less impunity.

"You shall do war as God orders to those who attack you first. Kill them wherever you find them and expel them from whence they have expelled you, because persecution is worse than murder..." Sir, It is pleasure to learn that all Israeli activity since 1948 is totally approved by Koran - Arabs attacked Israel

"You shall do war as God orders to those who attack you first. Kill them wherever you find them and expel them from whence they have expelled you, because persecution is worse than murder. Respect the order of God and do not fight near the Holy Mosque, unless they attack you first. "....." Otherwise protect them because they are people of the book." Quran, 2, 186-193. Now, I do not think we need any UN mission to discover who attacked first and expelled the other. Bismillah!

"You shall do war as God orders to those who attack you first. Kill them wherever you find them and expel them from whence they have expelled you, because persecution is worse than murder. Respect the order of God and do not fight near the Holy Mosque, unless they attack you first. "....." Otherwise protect them because they are people of the book." Quran, 2, 186-193. Now, I do not think we need any UN mission to discover who attacked first and expelled the other. Bismillah!

You need to be aware that this is the National Mufti of Syria. He is the suprime religous authority of Syria, and he is expressing the position of Syria toward all religions. Many of you are probably not aware, but Syria is the only country in the Middle east where all religions live peicefully and respecting eachothers. This is a reality not a political position. Ask any Syrian and he will tell you that the people are living in harmony (including with Jews when they were in Syria and before they were instructed to leave Syria agaist their wish by Isreal).

What exactly is your "experience"? When have you experienced what you describe? Or does your "experience" consist of reading all the stereotypical hype about Islam that's been made so prominant in recent years by Christians and Jews with an agenda? To be more direct, Daniel: can you please cite an instance of a Mufti being decapitated for expressing this view? How about any Muslim?

Good Immam, this one. I hope he means what he says. And I hope more Immams join him. That is a light (however slight) at the end of tunnel. I wonder what the Taliban, Hamas, Nasralah's Hizbolah,Islamic Jihad and many others would have to say to this commendable Immam (if he means what he says; and I am sorry for sounding a bit suspicious as this sounds too good to be true). Nevertheless, if the theologians, Islamic, Christian, Jewish can get together more regularly and then meet with the politicians regularly, perhaps a secular society with respect to all religions (as long as the religion does not teach hate and killings of the other religions) might come out and finally be appropriate in this day and age. That is my hope. Is it realistic ?

Islam is one of the fastest growing religions today.

I hope this will stop neocon pundits like Bernard Henri Levy & Thomas Friedman from continuously screaming that moslems are silent bigots. Thank you Haaretz for publishing this piece of news.

The real story is that religion has been the source of the misery in the Middle Eeast and all religions are equally to blame. The Crusades were not something the Christians should be proud of,and the regular skirmishes between the three so-called monotheistic religions have kept the area alive with warfare constantly. Currently the Jews are oppressing Christians and Moslems and as a result some Moslems have become extreme and not at all representative of the Koran. Israel's claims to be the rightful owners of the land taken from the Arabs simply because God said so are pretty ridiculous in the 21st century!

it's about a grubby little land grab.

I wish you could indicate me where in the shura 2 is mentioned that moslims are not allowed to hate jews. I don't find it. More I read the Quran more I see hate for jews because they haven't accept Islam and the Quran. i hope that people like this Mufti will help all moslims to be more tolerant with other faiths in order to live with them in peace in the whole world.

Just a small reminder, Israel exists, for the time being, in an an ocean of Muslims. Sooner or later, the fire power will disappear and the Mufiti's words are all there is between Jews and death. Look ahead Israel, religion has outlasted all States throughout history, and Israel is no exception either in the past or now.

Syria USED to have a vibrant Jewish community. Luckily most of them managed to get out. One should read the book "The Ransomed of God" by Harold Troper to find out how they were treated and how a resourceful Canadian Jewish woman, Judy Feld Carr helped rescued them. The Mufti's words are too late. One wonders if his grandfather's Jewish partner was forced by the State to have a Muslim partner in order to stay in business and if he took possession of that business afterwards.

Kaska "Muslims are not allowed to hate Jews" well I disagree 1) in quran surat 2 it tells Muslims that Jews are the only people that Allah changed to Pigs and Monkeys 2) In Surat 5 it tells Muslims to not trust a Jew Or a Christain 3) In Quran it states Jews corrupted thier Torah 4) in Surat 9 it instructs Muslims to fight people of the book those who do not beleive in allah & Muhamad 5) in Hadiths (al Bukhari ) it tells Muslims that at Judgement day Muslims will kill Jews til they hide behind rocks and the rock will scream out here is a Jews and you will kill him. Where was the Evil acts of zionists when this was written ? Where was the Evil Zionist when the Ottoman Empire invaded Non Muslim Palestine ?

See the Book of Jude in the Bible: Yet the Archangel Michael durst not bring a railing accusation, but said: "The Lord rebuke you."

Lets see where this Mufti is in a years time!! Missing I presume.

I am thrilled to read what the Mufti said. The leaders make a difference in how the followers views the world...

As an American Jew who wishes for Israel to live in peace side-by-side with its Muslim (and Christian) neighbors, I say INSHA"LLAH! Together, the children of Abraham should be a beacon to all mankind. Anyone who would be so arrogant as to purport to speak bigotry, hatred and murder in the name of God, whether Jew, Muslim or Christian, is a blasphemer, an enemy of God and Mankind. The only way forward for all of us is peace, generosity of spirit, and respect.

Hamishim Agora said it right. All Jews were expulsed from Saudi Arabia, Alexandria Egyt where there used to be about 30 thousand Jews today only has a handful who keep their Jewish identities secret. Iraqi Jews were intimidated when over 100 Jews were executed in public in 1941 and today there are very few again keeping their Jewish identities secret. Syrian Jews also were persecuted anfd not allowed to leave the country but through the help of Kurdish smugglers and the help of Turkish Jews many were smuggled out. However (I believe you once mentioned you are originally from Turkey) Turkey also had pogroms to intimidate the Jews in 1936 Kirklareli, 1941 Varlik Vergisi, 1955 September 6-7 that caused the once thriving and 20 thousand strong Jewish population og Izmir to go down to only two thousand.

A Mufti is an Islamic scholar specializing in Sharia Law. I really doubt if he is in danger of his life. Rather he is speaking in a most conservative way and from a position of honor. To be deemed a Mufti a man must be a Muslim, of age, just and trustworthy, that must be agreed by a majority of Muslim scholars, and he must be sound of mind and have a strong intellect. People tend to have their opinion of the title 'Mufti' shaped by the 'Grand Mufti of Jerusalem' appointed by the British High Commissioner Herbert Samuel for political reasons. Mohammad Amin al-Husayni was not qualified for the title by traditional standards and proved it repeatedly. He was the author of the current strife between Israel and Palestine.

People, people, people. Are we forgetting the dualism Islam enjoys. The Bizzaro World...Up is down, right is left, hard is soft. Soft, like in one's head if they allow themselves to actually believe this guy. Remember how Islam saved and protected millions and millions of people from their own religious belief systems; from the sands of the Middle East to the jungles of the Far East, (even if they didn't want to be saved and protected) in the past 1,400 years? All of a sudden its going to change?

Those who believe in Allah but are not Muslims are Dhimmis. They are not pagans and are deserving of respect and tolerance. They even have legal status though not completely equal. Think of "Arab Israeli."

I realize that none of the rabid bigots on this forum have ever bothered to read the Koran. What an irony that I an atheist has. As with any religious screed (definition 1:a or 1:c, take your pick) one may search to find something taken out of context which will prove almost any point you want to make. Besides Surah 17, Bani Israel (or)Al-Isra), 'The Children of Israel", there are many references to Jews in The Book. I have seen people cite Surah 2:98 "Whoever is the enemy of Allah and His angels and His apostles and Jibreel and Meekaeel, so surely Allah is the enemy of the unbelievers" as proof that the Koran is utterly hostile to Jews while not citing an actual reference 2:40 where Allah (YHWH, Yahweh, Elohim) dictates "O children of Israel! call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and be faithful to (your) covenant with Me, I will fulfill (My) covenant with you; and of Me, Me alone, should you be afraid." Sound a lot like the Shema Yisrael doesn't it? For good reason.

I respond to Murray. The political power concerns to the citizens, who share the same values, the same festivities, the same food. Who feels himself "chosen from God", and don't integrate himself with the community he doesn't pretend to rule the society.

Even for propaganda purposes, it would be advisable to nominate this Mufti with the Nobel Peace prize for his courageous human rational. Life is Truth Death is a lie

I'm an Arab and I think like the Mufti. You honestly think Arabs spend their time thinking how to destroy Israel. Get real. Israel has lots of issues, but most Arabs are not that obsessed with Israel. I have Jewish friends in London, but maybe the Middle East is a bit more backward and needs education and integration.

Thank you very much for status as Ahl el Kitab or dhimmis in the theoretical caliphate thats in your mind but this is 2010 and Jews dont need Muslims to defend them against other Muslims, we can do that ourselves thank you very much as we have an indepedent state now and there is no ancient/7th century caliphate anymore. Under this mans ideas Jews must still pay the Jizya tax because they are Jewish. This man's words are irrelivent Judaism does not need defense from Islam.

Don?t get me wrong it?s not that I do not appreciate the Mufti?s comments I simply see a disconnect between theory and reality. It is nice to say Jews should be treated as equals in Muslim countries, but is he willing to say that Muslim nations should treat a Jewish nation equally as well? Until he is willing to say Islam can accept a Jewish state (at the very least within the green line) then his statement will remain as nothing more than nice, but inconsequential rhetoric.

Now let's see a Rabbi say the same thing.

Sounds better than the way Pals are treated by the Israeli's don't you think?

This man is really great but you should know that many muslim syrians are very tolerent. It is a pity that Israeli are still refusing to cede the Golan and live in peace with their nice neighbours

Gee I think I would prefer that Judaism be protected by Jews. Somehow I smell something wrong here...trust is a wonderful thing but the arabs and mufti's have never earned that trust.

Is he on the American payroll? Will the Syrian govt put him in a loony bin ? Syria had a very ancient Jewish community, mentioned in the Mishna. It long predated the Arab Muslim invasion and occupation. Beginning in 1948 Syrian Jews were encouraged to leave and not to take too much with them. The Baath Party that rules Syria and ruled Iraq under Saddam Hussein began its life as the Arab pro-Hitler Party. The Mufti of Jerusalem says Jews never lived there and Solomon's Temple wasn't built there, while the Syrian Mufti reminds us that Jews, Christians and Muslims are very capable of living together. G-d bless him!

from Mufti. Very unusual preaching. I hope he is safe saying those things. In my experience religion of peace deals harshly with statements like that. People end up accidentally decapitated and then wandering all over the place looking for their heads over advanced ideas of this nature....

He must be joking .. No, very probably, as usual, he just tells this type of things to naive westerners, and on Friday he tells the real stuff to his Muslim brothers, like 'O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends' [Koran 5.51] or 'So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them' [Koran 9.5] .. and so on. And how well Muslim states - inc. Syria - 'protected' Jews is documented by the long list of massacres and other persecutions that they had to endure in such countries (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths/mf15.html). Of course, Christian states were not better in this respect - but at least few knowledgable Christian would nowadays claim that the Christian religion somehow 'protected' Jews.

I agree with some of the responses in regard to the unchanging acid tone of Petra's rejection of any positive indication peace with the Palestinians is achievable. Note please that he, she or it lives in some unspecified area of the U.S.A. and that her, his, or its personal knowledge of the politics of the Holy Land is therefore more than a little suspect.

Nice words indeed, but a bit too late. How many Jews are still living in Syria?

I would rather listen to this guy then the fool in Iran. Peace be upon you brother. May the truth flow from your lips.

As a heretic, I guess I remain fair game for the religious nutcases of various denominations. Oh, my god.

"And his associate, the grand Mufti in WW11 seems to be some major `disagreements` among the teachers of Islam." This IS a valid point so fight it. "Also, why do muslims war w/ one another constantly?" Anything to say or you prefer to attack Petra for asking? The last war in Europe was in ex Jugoslavia.How many wars we have seen in muslim world since than until now? You tell me

I wonder what Ahmedinejad and Nassralla would say about this statement. If this is true, this man is a very brave man, unlike many of the leaders who spend their lives underground placing their speakers outdors.

have you ever noticed that when western reporters interview people like haniyeh, barghouti, ashwari, meshal, they always are told how the palestinians aim is to liberate the 'occupied' land, yet NOT ONCE have I heard a reporter then ask, what in your mind constitues "occupied"? which area of land precisely? can you be precise sir? nono, wouldn't want to ask that...it's not appropriate...the sad fact is, the arabs have an agenda, and it's not 2 states..they give western ears and euro apologists only what they want to hear...as faisal al husseini said after oslo was signed, (in Arabic only to an Egyptina paper) the Oslo agreement was a "Trojan Horse" and that "we are lying to the Jews, we are tricking them we are cheating them."

What is a mencsh?

He was the grand mufti of Jerusalem from 1925 I believe until his expulsion following his incitement of the Great Arab Revolt 36-39. He them flees to Italy stays a week and I then flown to Germany a an official guest of the third Reich. He spent years in Germany, met with Hitler and eichman, Mufti thanks Eichman for not speaking about him at Eichmans trial. That would be my guess who she is referring to, you can YouTube hitler and grand mufti and watch a video of their meeting.

There have been many periods in the historical past where Jews and Arabs lived peacefully and harmoniously with each other. What will restore the harmony is education about obtaining skills to set the world right again and only the people there can do it.

Petra forgot to take her medicine this morning so she is a little confuse:)please just pat her on the head and let move on:)

Ahmed Hassoun must be praised for his humane interpretation of Islam; and in doing so, let us not reflect on the misdeeds of his co-religionists. It is too easy to be critical - there is good and bad in all religious communities. Let us praise the good amongst us. MV

The Mufti sounds like a good man, I hope his messages of peace are embraced. I have respect for Islam, I know that it is a religion that preaches peace and tolerance. It is a shame that many have taken its message and corrupted it with political thought.

Hamisham the above is nit an Islamic or muslim problem. It is an Arab problem. For some reaon muslims and jews in the rest of the world can co-exist but not in the middle east.

It is easy to find anti Jewish reference in the Qur'an.It is even easier to find Mullahs, Imams,and Muftis that preach antisemitism,but we should instead of coming with all of the "proovs"that Islam see Jews as"evil"(a known fact) embrace anyone that says otherwise. We should give the guy the credit for his words. It takes some courage to speak like that.In times where most of Islamic leaders are preaching hate,any voice that fight them should be supported.One such voice is better than no voice at all. To the Mufti i'll say,Yasher Koakh!

Zionism is self-determination? Now that is funny. Self-determination is for a group of people on a same piece of land entitled to rule themselves, Palestinians in Palestine, French in France. If you are a french jew than your self-determination is your right to live and vote in France. If you're a russian, african, german jew you can live and vote in russia, africa germany. Second, I'm a Israeli Arab, and I know the sitution of Arabs in Israel very well. We live in a ghetto. Not because we don't work, because we're not allowed to build. So we're forced to build ghettoish houses right next to each other. I have been to Haifa and Nahariya, now you go to Kafr Yasif and tell me if it's anything comparable. And "3". Yes there was a rise in anti-jewish racism with the foundation of Israel. But it was Israel that did everything it could to bring those jews in Israel to get a good % of jews. It wasn't arabs systematicaly expulsing them. That is a fact.

Why more than 95% of the entire moslem world's Jewish population (about a million) left for Israel, France or the US. Why the practice of the Jewish religion is OUTLAWED in Saudi Arabia, so much so that US soldiers of the Jewish faith must be flown to Bahrain for religious services by the military chaplaincy. Some "Koranic" protection! Even as propaganda (and the facts show that is all this is), this is pretty clumsy. Like Norway and Japan claiming that they are "protectors" of the whales that keep slaughtering (and they do claim, with straight faces, precisely that!). Why there has to be a Jewish State.

That is in the Quran. Refute it.

good for him, and i agree. i hear too often ignorant souls speaking of islam and how it is a violent religion bent on destroying the world... do not let politics intervene...

You said: "There is however hatred and disgust in the muslim world for the policies of the zionists. It is not it`s jewish nature that is the problem. It`s the fact that it expulses Muslims and Christians from land they have lived on for centuries". Please note: 1. Zionism is self-determination. For the Jews to have one tiny homeland shouldn't really stick in the throats of Muslims who have 50 countries of their own. 2. Over 1/5th of Israel's citizens are Muslim or Christian, with nobody "expulsing" them and they choose to remain Israeli. 3. All but a handful of Jews have been "expulsed" from their previously thriving communities in Muslim countries.

My best to you. Salaam/Shalom

The Mufti is saying something positive and there you are, peeing on the parade. Salaam/Shalom

Such an honor. Or not. The idea of 'not fighting' wasn't considered a good thing. What it meant was that Christans and Jews were not allowed to own weapons to protect themselves. Go take a look at Yemen. What do all the men wear on their belts? A knife. That knife is part of their honor. And it symbolizes their ability to wield it freely. In addition to the inability to protect themselves physically, Dhimmis were not given right to advocacy in a court. They could not bring suit, could not defend themselves in a court of law, nor could they provide testimony in a case. Their "honor" was non-existent. In fact, the "honor" was held towards those who 'protected' them. The Dhimmi's were the responsibility of the Sheiks. It was his honor, not ours, that was merited. We, were little more than political pawns and second class citizens. In a world like that, I can do without such "honor".

Of course the Mufti is right. The "followers of an earlier revelation" are explicitly protected in several parts of the Koran. But while his interpretation is that of the vast majority of Islam, there is a problem with a minority which disagrees violently. And yes, for centuries Islam protected the Jews so long as they didn't aspire to political power. Just like Christianity. Looking at Israel today reminds me of that fine tradition.

"they had to pay extra taxes, were not allowed to built as they wanted, there were travel restictions. They were tolerated as long as they bowed their heads. Never equal." Funny. Isn't that exactly how the Palestinians are treated by the state of Israel. Oh, I forgot -- the state of Israel also tries to starve them

"Dhimmis in Ismal are not obliged to fight and pay less taxes than Muslims" so then you are claiming that it is not true that Jews had to pay a speical tax under the caliphate? Or are you saying that the tax was illegal under your interpretation of islamic law?

Take from it what you will. This is a translation of the Qur'an Chapter 9 Line 30. The Torah has similar statements, however they are not directly followed in modern times. "The Jews call 'Uzair a son of God, and the Christians call Christ the son of God. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. God's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!"

"And his associate, the grand Mufti in WW11?" Fail at maths?

For those ignoramus folks who throw Arabic words around and don't know what the heck they mean, in Islam, Muslims can only marry Dhimmis, Christians and Jews. Dhimmis comes from Dhimmah which means honor. Dhimmis are people of the Book. Honorable people. When a man has Dhimmah it means he is honorable. When a man/woman has no Dhimmah means they are not trustworthy. Dhimmis in Ismal are not obliged to fight and pay less taxes than Muslims. If you want fabricate facts, at least try to be believable.

At least one Muslim knows what could have been

"Protected" not "Equal". Muslim 'protection' came at a steep cost, key of which was the inability to defend oneself, either physically or in a court of law. Notably, non-Muslims weren't even allowed to offer testimony. The other restrictions and costs are well known. What is also lacking from the Mufti's comments is a sense of timing. 60 years after Israel's founding, a time when Syria first persecuted, and finally disperesed its own Jewish community, shows a willingness to protect what was already destroyed. If the Mufti is sincere in his words, then he will advocate a push for Syria to end its hostility towards Israel in search for a true peace. Yesterday's faults are history. Today is what matters. If the Mufti is willing to walk the walk, then praise to him for taking such a step.

Look at how the Palestinians are being treated in the west bank, including Jerusalem. You think you are treating them any better? Think again. What a hypocrite.

The problem with religion is that the people never manage to practice what is written and culture takes over. Much of the Koran includes Jewish and Christian beliefs and teaches its followers to protect the "People of the Book" which refers to monotheistic religions, particularly Judaism and Christianity. Christians argue amongst themselves, as do Jews. Oh that the Middle East could reach an understanding on religion which might be translated into a peace on the ground!

The sentence for assulting a jew in syria is much harsher that when assulting a muslim

This is the best arrangement.,..

carpe diem, - catch the day ! build a bridge of trust, conciliation, peace!

they had to pay extra taxes, were not allowed to built as they wanted, there were travel restictions. They were tolerated as long as they bowed their heads. Never equal.

with each other. Politics is self-servning by the self-appointed few. It has no place in the Holyland nor in the region.

The majority of Muftis in Arab world expressed themselves like this gentleman, there would be peace between Jews and Arabs in M.E...

I agree with this Mufti, and it is also the other way around. We in the middle east live now and tomorrow and we all here want to live in peace. This mufti is responsible for his words and deeds and not for the one of WOII People like this Mufti point to the rigth way, which is the true path to real peace between us jewsh israeli's and our brother islam neigbours.

First of all, out of the thousands of imams in this world, you have only heard from 10-20 of them with extremist point of vues. How can you say anything about the thousand others you have not ever heard of? Secondly, muslims waging war against each other? Yes that is true. Is it a muslim characteristic? Europe has been in hundreds of wars between itself. There have been hundreds of christian-christian wars and there are still some (Ireland ie). If I'm not mistaken, in the biblical Israel the jewish kingdom ended up divided. So there was even a Jewish-Jewish war going on apparently. Muslims are not allowed to hate Jews. If you have any doubt then read the second sourate of the Koran. There is however hatred and disgust in the muslim world for the policies of the zionists. It is not it's jewish nature that is the problem. It's the fact that it expulses Muslims and Christians from land they have lived on for centuries. You can't understand the world if you don't even try to....

With Muslims like him, there would be more people embracing his religion. I wish he stays steadfast in his the attitude he expressed.

Unfortunately your preaching at the wrong mosque