Inside the Belly of the Whale : Islamism in the Jewish State

This book explores the rise of Islamism in Israel, its challenges, and the interplay between religion and politics in shaping various ambitions. It situates Islamism’s emergence within the historical context of Palestinians transitioning from a majority to a minority under Jewish state governance after the 1948 war.

Inside the Belly of the Whale: Islamism in the Jewish State explores the rise of Islamism in Israel and the challenges faced by the Islamist movement as it navigates the intersection of Islam as a universal faith with the principles of democracy, nationalism, and Zionism. It examines how the movement leverages religion to shape the cultural, political, economic, and social realities of the Palestinian Arab minority and the broader Israeli landscape. Additionally, it raises compelling questions about whether the movement remains aligned with the principles of political Islam or has it evolved into a democratic Islamic party functioning within a Jewish state with limited democratic practices. The discussion situates the rise of Islamism within the historical context that saw Palestinians—once the majority and indigenous inhabitants of Palestine—reduced to a minority under the governance of the Jewish state since 1948.