Death to the infidels

By Mitchell Geoffrey Bard

Book Description

Mitchell Geoffrey Bard examines how religious ideology has reshaped one of the world's most enduring conflicts in this analytical exploration of contemporary Middle Eastern dynamics. Drawing from his research, Bard traces the evolution of the Arab-Israeli dispute from its primarily political origins to what he characterizes as a religiously motivated confrontation.

The author focuses particularly on Hamas, describing how this Palestinian organization emerged from Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and fundamentally altered the nature of regional tensions. According to Bard's interpretation, Hamas views the conflict not as a territorial dispute requiring negotiation, but as a religious imperative concerning Islamic sovereignty and Jewish presence on what they consider sacred land.

Bard extends his analysis beyond the Middle East, documenting incidents of anti-Jewish violence across Europe, Asia, and Latin America that he attributes to radical Islamic ideology. He pays special attention to developments in France, where he notes increasing tensions within communities where Muslims comprise nearly ten percent of the population.

Through his examination of these patterns, Bard argues that the transformation from political to religious framing has significantly diminished possibilities for peaceful resolution. He suggests that radical elements envision the elimination of Israel as merely an initial step toward establishing a broader Islamic empire.

This work offers readers interested in understanding contemporary religious and political tensions a framework for examining how ideological shifts can reshape longstanding conflicts and influence global dynamics.