zionism_unsettled_scan

Just another racist
August 2013. As part of his re-election campaign, Upper Nazareth's incumbent mayor Shimon Gapso posted signs
promising his (Jewish) constituents: "I will not allow the city's Jewish character to be changed. I will block the establishment
of an Arab school and will build neighbourhoods for Jewish residents .... Upper Nazareth is a Jewish city!"
Responding in Haaretz to critics of his campaign messaging, Gaspo explained defiantly, "If that makes me a racist.
then I'm a proud offshoot of a glorious dynasty of 'racists' that started with ... the explicitly racist promise: 'To your
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seed I have given this land' [Genesis 15:38)."2
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elsewhere tire sometimes killed by Muslirns who act
in violation of the message of Islam ... .Islam allows
self-defense ... [but] no civilians of any age, group, or
background should be targeted.'"
THE INCLUSIVE NATURE OF ISLAM
There are many texts in the Qur'nl1 that affirm God's
love for all people, demand that humans act justly
toward others, and condemn any form of discrimination.
The Qur'nll insists that Muslin1s demonstrate
God's special respect for Jews and Christians bccause
God is revealed in all three Abrahamic faiths.
For example,
We have believed in God and what has been
revealed to LIS and what has been revealed to
Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and
the Descendants and what was given to Moses
and Jeslls and what was given to the prophets
from their Lord. We make no distinction between
any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission]
to Him, (The Holy QUI""" 2:136).'
This respect and acceptance was embodied in the
Constitution of Medina, which the Prophet Muhammad
drafted in the first quarter of the 7th century
C.E. The constitution offered equal rightS-including
freedom of religion-to Muslims, Jews, Christians,
and pagans.-I The inclusivity of God's love for all
peoples also explains the peaceful acceptance by
Muslin1s of Jewish and Christian minorities living in
their midst across western Asia and northern Africa
throughout much of history as long as Jews and
Christians act justly toward Muslims.
Abu Sway has developed an "Islamic Theology
of Soft Otherness"to teach the Qur'all's message
of respectful and peaceful rebtionships among
members of the three Abrahamic faiths. He writes,
"The Qur'I1Jl prevents the total othcrillg [classifying
as total outsiders] of Jews and Christians and names
them 'People of the Book' because their prophets
received revealed books. Islam promotes cOllviv(,lltin;'
between Muslims and members of these two other
faiths based on sharing commonalities in theology,
law, and ethics, despite some serious differences
that are mostly post-revelational."In practice, Jews
and Christians enjoy a special status in the Holy
Qllr'all and the Prophetic traditions, permitting
intermarriage with the chaste women of the People
of the Book without their conversion, sharing a meal
(literally, "the food of the People of the Book is lawful
to Muslims")/' and doing business transactions ,md
having partnership with them as the Prophet himself
did. These practices lead to a healthy social fabric,
in which a religiolls community hCls a larger place
where it feels at home."7
Zionism, however, has not reciprocated this
respect for all peoples. Instead, says Abu Sway,
Zionism is by nature a system of discrimination and
exclusion.
THE ZIONIST PROJECT
"Racism is the cornerstone of the Zionist project,"
says Abu Sway.!' Instead of equal rights for all,
Zionism has created a system of domination and
subservience. As evidence for this charge he cites
a recent article by Shimon Capso, Mayor of Upper
Nazareth, entitled "If you think I'm a racist, then
Israel is a racist State." Responding to charges froll)
SHIMON GAPSO.
MAYOR, UPPER
NAZARETH, ISRAEL
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ZIONISM UNSETTLED