thousands of years of conflict? "islam" in its present sense came only 1400 years ago. for the better part of 1300 years Jews prospered under Islamic rule...so I don't see how there is thousands of years of conflict. Jordan's leadership only cares because half their country is Palestinian.
boy -- sorry... you're right...i misspoke. how about hundreds of years of conflict?? better? still doesn't change my point. I know that during the times of the Crusades the Jews and the Muslims were often at each other's throats...along with those who perverted the teachings of Christ. Jordan seems to be the most moderate of Arab nations. I would assume they would be the first to support real peace and co-existance in the region.
no actually your completely wrong again. during the crusades most christians and jews wanted muslims to win. jews were rather content and happy during the ottoman leadership too since they had their autonomy in their regions. it hasn't been hundreds of years. it's been maybe a 100 probably 60. and jordan is decent i agree.
Madmax, to add on what boy said, also remember after the Spanyard conquest of the Spanish peninsula and the following Spanish inquisition, it was Muslim lands where the Jews took refuge and were permitted freedom of worship as well as peaceful co-existence. This situation persisten until the last 100 years with the rise of the zionist movement. As an Arab, I do not blame the zionists though since they came out of a Jew-hating context in Europe. But we have to understand that zionism was largely a European phenomena and the Jews of Arab/Muslim countries did not join the ride until much later, with the rising sentiments of Arab anger over Palestinian grievances. It's a sad situation for everyone.. but there were always instances of co-existence even until now. In my country, Bahrain, the Bahraini Jews were among those who stayed.. and they're still living among us. A Jew is even serving as a member of the Parliament in Bahrain. (see http://www.currentissues.org/Bahrain/Culture/Jews.htm) Maybe I am too optimistic but what I see in my country encourages me to believe that it is possible elsewhere..
There was an intresting piece on 'Marketplace' on PRI on friday. The gist of it was, through discussions with a number of Arabic scholars, (most of them with pro-US viewpoints), was that advertising might not be as effective as the US would believe. The point was that #1 - given the history of cultural misunderstandings (ie the flap over 'Operation Infinate Justice') an advertising executive may not be accustomed to thinking in terms that would appeal to Arab audiences. #2 - Many of the advertising campaigns in the US succede through the imense volume of exposure. Given the nature of viewing by Arabs, "Overwhelming Exposure" will be much more difficult to obtain. #3 - Most opinions that can be changed are not deeply held ones. We mostly think the US is right and they are wrong. By the same token, they mostly believe the US is the great Satan. If Satan started an advertising campaign, how many Christians do you believe would become Satanists? Not that it's a bad idea, just that the US will have to be prepared for a non-typical campaign. Success rates may not be what is expected, and the US will have to have any proposed campaigns carefuly reviewed by Arab scholars. Also, we should plan on a long campaign. 10+ years before any real effects.
boy -- i suppose my history books lie, then. i certainly wasn't there..can only tell you what I've read. my understanding is that during that time period, Christians, Jews and Muslims exchanged shots and broke treaties amongst each other left and right. by the way..isn't it an overstatement to say, "you're completely wrong again??" i sure hope so. I'd like to think I'm not completely wrong ALL of the time!
you were wrong when you said thousands and your wrong when you said hundreds. decades would be more appropriate. go read other viewpoints of history. the ottomans gave jews FULL rights. of course they didn't allow jewish bankers from europe to come and buy all of palestine but they gave anyone who lived there full rights. the 'fights' started after wwII when palestine was taken away from the hands of muslims.
