Our journey into the wild and wacky world of Palestinian influence operations continues with a look at the Nakba concept as conceived by its chief architect, Constantin Zureiq.
The book "What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East" offers relevant historical data. I was particularly impressed by the disappearance of wheeled vehicles and clocks within a generation whenever a region fell under the control of Muslim clerics. The author's explanation for the wheeled vehicles problem was lack of the rule of law. Being so easily transportable, those in power could and did seize them. As for clocks, it was advantageous for the clerics to supplant them with their timed public announcements of time.
Yes, I read two of Bernard Lewis's books that came out in the years after 9/11 and when much attention was focused on the so-called Global War on Terrorism. One was What Went Wrong? and the other was The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror, which came out the year after. After 10/7, I dusted them off but I'll be honest that I have not reread them yet, though I have recommended them to others.
It's been a long time since I pushed out a post, but Aboubakr's essay in Mosaic is worth reading, as he goes into a discussion of how the Nakba narrative changed once Arab nationalism itself was overthrown by the rise of the Arab New Left and, even later, as Islamism joined the party. Aboubakr points to other influential writers and I still need to track their works down and digest them. At some point, I'd like to write a more detailed piece on the Nakba that builds on Aboubakr's scholarship under a post title that might attract more attention (i.e., one where Nakba is in the title).
Thank you, David, for researching the origins and meaning of the term Nakba and how it has been transformed into an anti-Zionist, antisemitic tool. Nakba revisionism.
Thank you, Gerald. It's almost habitual for me to reply to thanks with "my pleasure", but in this case, I really must practice the art of suppressed automaticity. There are so many wonderful things we can be doing with our limited time, but I feel this is important, and as I said towards the end of the post, "a duty." I am inspired by how many Substack writers are writing excellent posts that challenge antisemitic narratives and are proudly Zionist. I am glad to be among them.
Excellent essay! Thanks for sharing this well written insight.
This essay kicks ass.
Lorie, your comments always make me feel so good. Raw energy! Thank you!
The book "What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East" offers relevant historical data. I was particularly impressed by the disappearance of wheeled vehicles and clocks within a generation whenever a region fell under the control of Muslim clerics. The author's explanation for the wheeled vehicles problem was lack of the rule of law. Being so easily transportable, those in power could and did seize them. As for clocks, it was advantageous for the clerics to supplant them with their timed public announcements of time.
Yes, I read two of Bernard Lewis's books that came out in the years after 9/11 and when much attention was focused on the so-called Global War on Terrorism. One was What Went Wrong? and the other was The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror, which came out the year after. After 10/7, I dusted them off but I'll be honest that I have not reread them yet, though I have recommended them to others.
Thank you for explaining how the meaning of the Nakba as used by Arab nationalists has changed over time.
It's been a long time since I pushed out a post, but Aboubakr's essay in Mosaic is worth reading, as he goes into a discussion of how the Nakba narrative changed once Arab nationalism itself was overthrown by the rise of the Arab New Left and, even later, as Islamism joined the party. Aboubakr points to other influential writers and I still need to track their works down and digest them. At some point, I'd like to write a more detailed piece on the Nakba that builds on Aboubakr's scholarship under a post title that might attract more attention (i.e., one where Nakba is in the title).
Thank you, David, for researching the origins and meaning of the term Nakba and how it has been transformed into an anti-Zionist, antisemitic tool. Nakba revisionism.
Thank you, Gerald. It's almost habitual for me to reply to thanks with "my pleasure", but in this case, I really must practice the art of suppressed automaticity. There are so many wonderful things we can be doing with our limited time, but I feel this is important, and as I said towards the end of the post, "a duty." I am inspired by how many Substack writers are writing excellent posts that challenge antisemitic narratives and are proudly Zionist. I am glad to be among them.