From protected status to 'the Jewish threat': tracing Arab anti-Semitism

History · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before the 20th century, Jews in the Muslim world often held a specific legal standing. But a shift toward modern anti-Semitism was fueled by radical propaganda, colonial tensions, and religious interpretations that transformed historical coexistence into a narrative of existential enmity.

Historically, Jews in the Arab world were categorized as 'People of the Book.' Under Islamic rule starting in the 6th century, they were granted 'dhimmitude'—a status as protected second-class citizens. While this system imposed social and legal inferiority, it provided relative security compared to total exclusion. This dynamic shifted significantly during the late twentieth century as manifestations of anti-Semitism erupted more overtly.

The transition to modern anti-Semitism is linked to several key historical pivots. In 1894, the Arabic translation of Eugen Duhring’s 'The Talmud Jew' began popularizing the concept of a 'Jewish threat.' This was further exacerbated during World War II by Mohammed Amin al-Husayni, the Mufti of Jerusalem, who acted as an Arab propagandist for the Nazis. Al-Husayni explicitly urged Arabs to kill Jews in 1944, framing it as a religious and historical necessity.

Religious texts also play a complex role. While the Qur'an contains positive assessments of Jews, it also includes passages describing them as 'infidels' or 'enemies of God.' These verses have been utilized by radical fundamentalists to justify hostility toward Israel. Furthermore, conspiracy theories like 'The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion'—a Russian secret police forgery from the early 19th century—have remained influential in Arab bookshops and media for over a century.

The creation of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, served as a major catalyst. The subsequent wars (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973) and the plight of Palestinian refugees fueled deep bitterness. By the mid-1970s, prolonged violence led to a mass exodus of Jewish populations from Arab countries to Israel, France, and the United States.

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