Ideology of Palestinian Islamic Jihad

The main objective of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is to destroy the Israeli state.[1] PIJ seeks to achieve this through military action.[1] Their objective is informed by their historical understanding of the current situation and their religious beliefs and interpretations of the Quran.[2][3]

Anti-imperialism and pan-Islamism

PIJ’s ideology is influenced by both anti-imperialism and pan-Islamism, amongst other things. PIJ view the Israeli state as both an occupying power and a colonial power which must be dismantled.[4] They believe that the Arab–Israeli conflict has its roots not in 1948 and the emergence of the Israeli state, but rather in Western imperialism and its destructive effect on Islamic unity.[5] More specifically, PIJ believe that Western powers aimed to divide Islamic societies and communities to upkeep Western hegemony in the region after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.[4][6] PIJ view the Israeli state as an extension and mechanism of Western hegemony, contributing to the oppression of the local population and constituting a major cause of division, conflict and instability in the region and the Global South more generally.[4][6] They therefore think that the destruction of the Israeli state is not only important for ending the occupation of Palestinian land and the suppression of the Palestinian people, but also important for the decolonization of the broader region and the revival of Muslim unity.[6][7] Because PIJ view Israel as a colonial power and a dividing force between Muslims, they believe that liberating Palestine through the destruction of the Israeli state should be a major concern of all Islamic movements or groups.[6][8] In line with their belief in the importance of Muslim unity, PIJ emphasise the commonalities of Shia Islam and Sunni Islam, rather than their differences.[9][10]

According to Alavi, Ayatollah Khomeini and the Islamic Revolution in Iran strongly influenced the ideology of PIJ's founder Fathi Shaqaqi and, by extension, that of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.[3] Alavi argues that Shaqaqi’s ideas regarding the importance of Islamic movements and Islamic unity for freeing the region from Western domination and colonization stemmed from Khomeini.[11] Accordingly, Shaqaqi viewed the Iranian revolution as a breakthrough in the fight for decolonization and, according to Alavi, pro-Iranian sentiment is still central to PIJ today.[3] Alavi also argues that the relationship with and support (including financial support) b Iran are the main reasons PIJ was able to extend its influence and activity beyond Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.[12]

Interpretations of the Quran

Based on his interpretation of the Quran, Shaqaqi believed that there is an ancient hatred between Jews and Muslims and that the current conflict with Israel had been prophesied in the Quran.[13][14] Shaqaqi also believed that the Quran had predestined that Israel would be defeated through the rise of Islam.[15] PIJ thus believe that the liberation of Palestine is God’s will and that it is every Muslim’s duty to fight for this, making immediate military resistance imperative.[16] Moreover, Skare notes that PIJ also believe that the fight against and defeat of the Israeli state would also result in the victory of the Islamic movement and the rise of Islam.[17]

Views on conflict resolution

PIJ firmly reject recognising the legitimacy of the Israeli state as well as a two-state solution with Israel as they view Israel as a colonial entity which contributes to oppression and instability in the Global South.[8] They therefore believe that the Israeli state must cease to exist.[8] Hatina highlights, however, that PIJ believe that, after the destruction of the Israeli state, Jews and Muslims would be able to live together under Islamic rule.[18]

See also

References
  1. Alexander, Yonah (2002-01-01). Palestinian Religious Terrorism: Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Brill | Nijhoff. p. 29. doi:10.1163/9789004479814. ISBN 978-90-04-47981-4.
  2. Skare, Erik (2021). A history of Palestinian Islamic Jihad : faith, awareness, and revolution in the Middle East. Cambridge, United Kingdom. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-108-95444-0. OCLC 1196822773.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. Alavi, Seyed Ali (2020). Iran and Palestine : past, present, future. Abingdon, Oxon. pp. 83–99. ISBN 978-0-429-27707-8. OCLC 1090706836.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. Skare, Erik (2021). A history of Palestinian Islamic Jihad : faith, awareness, and revolution in the Middle East. Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp. 39–43. ISBN 978-1-108-95444-0. OCLC 1196822773.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. Skare, Erik (2021). A history of Palestinian Islamic Jihad : faith, awareness, and revolution in the Middle East. Cambridge, United Kingdom. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-108-95444-0. OCLC 1196822773.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. Alavi, Seyed Ali (2020). Iran and Palestine : past, present, future. Abingdon, Oxon. pp. 86–93. ISBN 978-0-429-27707-8. OCLC 1090706836.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. Skare, Erik (2021). A history of Palestinian Islamic Jihad : faith, awareness, and revolution in the Middle East. Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp. 39–43, 56–57. ISBN 978-1-108-95444-0. OCLC 1196822773.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. Skare, Erik (2021). A history of Palestinian Islamic Jihad : faith, awareness, and revolution in the Middle East. Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-1-108-95444-0. OCLC 1196822773.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. Alavi, Seyed Ali (2020). Iran and Palestine : past, present, future. Abingdon, Oxon. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-429-27707-8. OCLC 1090706836.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. Hatina, Meir (2001). Islam and salvation in Palestine : the Islamic Jihad movement. Tel Aviv: Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African studies, Tel Aviv University. p. 54. ISBN 965-224-048-6. OCLC 48140580.
  11. Alavi, Seyed Ali (2020). Iran and Palestine : past, present, future. Abingdon, Oxon. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-429-27707-8. OCLC 1090706836.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  12. Alavi, Seyed Ali (2020). Iran and Palestine : past, present, future. Abingdon, Oxon. pp. 95–99. ISBN 978-0-429-27707-8. OCLC 1090706836.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. Skare, Erik (2021). A history of Palestinian Islamic Jihad : faith, awareness, and revolution in the Middle East. Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp. 43–48. ISBN 978-1-108-95444-0. OCLC 1196822773.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  14. Hatina, Meir (2001). Islam and salvation in Palestine : the Islamic Jihad movement. Tel Aviv: Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African studies, Tel Aviv University. p. 48. ISBN 965-224-048-6. OCLC 48140580.
  15. Skare, Erik (2021). A history of Palestinian Islamic Jihad : faith, awareness, and revolution in the Middle East. Cambridge, United Kingdom. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-108-95444-0. OCLC 1196822773.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  16. Skare, Erik (2021). A history of Palestinian Islamic Jihad : faith, awareness, and revolution in the Middle East. Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp. 46, 57. ISBN 978-1-108-95444-0. OCLC 1196822773.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  17. Skare, Erik (2021). A history of Palestinian Islamic Jihad : faith, awareness, and revolution in the Middle East. Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp. 44–48. ISBN 978-1-108-95444-0. OCLC 1196822773.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  18. Hatina, Meir (2001). Islam and salvation in Palestine : the Islamic Jihad movement. Tel Aviv: Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African studies, Tel Aviv University. p. 52. ISBN 965-224-048-6. OCLC 48140580.
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