127: Does Islam hate Jews? With Prof. Meir Litvak
Summary
Host Haviv Meir interviews Professor Meir Litvak on the history of anti-Semitism in Islam, tracing it from early Quranic tensions to modern political movements. Litvak explains how traditional dhimmi status evolved into virulent modern anti-Semitism following 19th-century European imperialism and the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The discussion highlights how Islamist ideologies, particularly in Iran and among groups like Hamas, weaponize historical grievances to frame Jews as eternal enemies of Islam.
Topics discussed
Introduction, sponsor message, and guest background
Early Islamic history: Prophet Muhammad and Jewish tribes
Medieval relations: Dhimmis, discrimination, and exceptions
Shi'a Iran: Ritual impurity laws and forced conversions
Theological roots: Scriptural distortion and Jewish scapegoating
19th-20th Century: European influence and The Protocols
Psychological impact: Muslim defeat by Jews and Zionism
Islamist ideology: Religious framing of the conflict
Iran's Islamic Republic: State-sponsored anti-Semitism
Global spread, Western diaspora, and paths forward
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