RADICAL ISLAM: ISRAEL AND THE WEST

The failed modernity of the Arab (Islamic) world has contributed greatly to the present day terrorism against Israel and the West. For the first time in 1,000 years the Arabs are in control of their fate, yet without the natural resources of oil, natural gas and other natural resources, their wealth has fallen behind most other areas of the world. In this lecture Professor Lewis explains that rather than blaming themselves for their decline and improving themselves by westernizing, many have turned to the radical forms of Islam — Wahabism, Salafism, Khomeini Shiaism, et al — and Jihadism. They believe that it was Islam (The Mujahideen) that defeated the Soviet Union in 1989. They point with pride to 9/11 and the Iranian revolution; they believe that they will finally prevail in Europe (the third invasion); and they believe that they are in a war with the unbelievers of America. They believe that all the ills of the Islamic Arab world can be laid at the feet of America and Israel.

Professor Bernard Lewis, distinguished scholar of Islam and the Arab world, has authored many books on this subject including Faith and Power: Religion and Politics in the Middle East; Islam: The Religion and People; From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting the MIddle East; Holy War and Unholy Terror, and What Went Wrong. RADICAL ISLAM: ISRAEL AND THE WEST is moderated and introduced by Professor Robert Wistrich, director of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and author of several books, including The Lethal Obsession.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Antisemitism
• Bernard Lewis
• Radical Islam
• Israel
• West
• Islam
• Terrorism
• Jihad