Customer Reviews

Green Crescent Over Nazareth: The Displacement of Christians by Muslims in the Holy Land (Israeli History, Politics and Society)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book details the complex Muslim-Christian discord between citizens of Nazareth (a city under Israeli jurisdiction) seemingly as an example of the greater scope of interethnic problems in the area.

It Begins with a short chapter on historical Nazareth to the First World War, its vicissitudes of prosperity and decline, Muslim and Christian power. With chapter two, we move into the history of "Modern Nazareth" (i.e. under British mandate), under which it was "a thriving center of Christian activity, mainly religious but also charitable, social, cultural and political." Chapter three picks up the history of Nazareth after the Israeli War of Independence and the establishment of Israel (1948), after which many Muslim refugees fled there for safety. At this time, the demographic balance began to shift. Though Christian depopulation throughout Israel was rapid in these years, it was statistical as much as due to an exodus, for the Arab birthrate went up dramatically and various annexations (i.e. East Jerusalem) shifted numbers around. In Nazareth, the pace of change appeared to be quicker than elsewhere, and soon Christians were a minority.

Chapter four focuses on the complex local Arab political scene, for which Nazareth was the hub. The variety of characters and parties is staggering, but one in particular emerges from the milieu--Tufiq Zyyad, the "immensely charismatic and forceful poet" who became the first Muslim leader of the Communist Party, as well as the mayor of Nazareth. During his tenure (and that of the next several Muslim mayors), the Christian marginalization in Nazareth reached its peak.

Chapter five, then, deals with the aftermath of his death, and the collapse of the Soviet Union and Communist Party, most members of which simply switched modes of radicalism--to Islamic fundamentalism. Also at this time, with the discrediting of Communism, the city elected a Christian mayor. The Islamists then began to use their "demographic edge" to gain control over the city. To this end, they declared the plaza of the Basilica of the Annunciation to be waqf. Following some Islamist victories in local politics, the process of building a mosque there began.
Which brings us to Chapter six, which covers the Nazareth situation at the time of writing (2000), the implications of the construction plans and possible social and political results. Chapter seven, entitled "The Shihab-a-Din Controversy", covers the struggle for power over a portion of the Basilica.

The remaining four chapters (bar the final one) trace the history-as-it-happens of the struggle for power in the city. The final chapter, "Lessons and Conclusions" suggests the Islamists have learned from the Nazareth experience that "if they are persistent enough and aggressive enough, they are bound to win their case". It lists the achievements of the Islamists and the prospects for the Christian citizens, which are "gloomy". It also asks some unanswered questions from the Israeli government's point of view (what a surprise!) It also reminds that as long as Israel is committed to its megalomaniacal land-grabbing program in the Middle East, there will never be peace there.

The copy of this that I read was a paperback published in the 1990s. I don't know if this hardback copy represents an updated version or simply a reprint.