Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Bible and the Founding Myths of Israel: History, New Historiography and the Truth (1882-1948) 2. From the Secular to the Sacred: Messianic Zionism and the Occupied Territories (1967-2006) 3. Reinventing Maimonides: From Universalist Arabo-Jewish Philosopher to Religious Fundamentalist (1967-2006) 4. Jewish Fundamentalism and the 'Sacred Geography' of Jerusalem in Comparative Perspective: Implications for Inter-faith Relations 5. The Politics of Armageddon: Christian Fundamentalism, the State of Israel and Jerusalem 6. Political Islam in Palestine and Israel 7. Reading the Bible with the Eyes of the Canaanites: Michael Prior, Liberation Theology and Moral Obligations 8. The Secular Democractic State: Edward W. Said and a New Political Vision for Palestine and Israel Epilogue

Promotional Information

Investigates the Biblical justification for Zionism and charts the historical rise of Zionism since its 19th century roots. Providing a contribution to the argument for a single democratic and secular Israeli state, this book shows how the biblical language of 'chosen people' and 'promised land' is used to justify ethnic division and violence.

About the Author

DR NUR MASALHA is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Holy Land Research Project at St.Mary's College, University of Surrey, UK. He is Editor of "Holy Land Studies: A Multidisciplinary Journal". His books include: "Imperial Israel and the Palestinians" (2000); and "The Politics of Denial" (2003).

Reviews

Groundbreaking.
*Abrar*

His argument should be read and taken deadly seriously...Nur makes a fascinating comparison between US backing for Israel today and British Christian backing for the Zionist project over a hundred years ago.
*John Rose, International Socialism*

As a collection of virtually independent, yet interdependent essays, this books must strike the reader as unique in its breadth of discourse in the now increasingly over-subscribed as well as predominately ‘area study’ focussed discipline of Middle Eastern politics and history ... very important and contextually relevant.
*Sam Jacob, University of Exeter, Friends of Al-Aqsa*

Challenging.
*The Pastoral Review*