In hardly any other region are religion, history, and national identity so closely intertwined. What has long been consigned to the past for Western observers remains political reality here. Biblical promises and Koranic traditions shape not only the thinking of the people, but also their perception of war, peace, friendship, and enmity. A remarkable Israeli television discussion about Saudi Arabia and the Houthis shows how naturally current military events are interpreted through a religious lens. At its core lies a fundamental question: How can the Middle East be understood if one ignores the religious beliefs through which its people explain reality?
An Israeli television discussion focused on rockets, burning oil facilities, and the Houthis in the war against Saudi Arabia. But suddenly, the Bible entered the conversation. Journalist Zvi Yehezkeli asked why the Saudis hated Jews. Dr. Edy Cohen, a regular Israel Today contributor, responded with a biblical interpretation: God had said, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you.” Because prayers against Jews had been offered in Saudi Arabia, he said, the...
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