Antisemitism in the Muslim World: The Best Explanation You’ll Ever Hear

How did modern antisemitism take root in the Muslim world—and why does neither “ancient Islamic hatred” nor “European import” fully explain it?Historian Jimmy Bitton traces the evolution of anti-Jewish ideas across the Middle East, examining how older Islamic prejudices collided with European conspiracy theories, blood libels, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, Nazi propaganda, Arab nationalism, Zionism, and the wars surrounding Israel’s creation.Drawing on the work of historians Esther Webman and Jeffrey Herf, Bitton explores how the image of the Jew changed from a socially inferior minority into something far more dangerous: an imagined global enemy—secretly powerful, conspiratorial, and responsible for political catastrophe.He examines how Nazi Germany adapted antisemitic propaganda for Arabic-speaking audiences during World War II, how the conflict with Zionism and Israel intensified these ideas, and how “Jew,” “Zionist,” and “Israeli” increasingly became fused into a single political and religious enemy.The result is a history far more complicated—and more unsettling—than either side of the usual argument allows.How did imported European antisemitism become localized, internalized, and eventually treated as indigenous to the region? And what happens when political conflict is transformed into sacred history?This episode examines the genealogy of ideas that continue to shape the Middle East today.Media & Partnership Opportunities: [email protected] of Jewish History: https://jimmybitton.comThanks to our Lifetime Supporter:http://www.mosaicsbymarc.comSupport the Mission:https://buymeacoffee.com/echoesofjewishhistoryPlease follow this show . It really helps!POWERED BY ECHOES MEDIA