Can Jewish nationalism be open to people of Muslim faith? This seemingly contradictory suggestion is the starting point of an interrogation into the limits of Jewish national identity. Contemporary exclusivist models of Jewish nationalism stand in contrast to a history of Arab Palestinians cohabiting with Jews and adopting Jewish cultural practices. Radical visions within Zionism proposed the integration of Arab Palestinians in a redefined Jewish/Hebrew nation. However, dominant Zionist and later Israeli ideology sought to restrict and prevent such inclusivity. Some non-Jews have been integrated into Jewish Israeli praxis in what has been termed “sociological conversion”, yet full integration remains impossible given Israel’s hegemonic model of ethno-religious Jewish citizenship.

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By: Diana Franklin
Last updated: Friday, 2 October 2015