What is Muslim Zionism?

In attempting to describe the current phenomenon of Muslims who are dashing headfirst toward normalization efforts with Israel, the term Muslim Zionism is appropriate for it and must be introduced. I was hesitant and thought about using Islamic Zionism but opted for Muslim Zionism instead, so as not to convey any epistemological legitimacy or ground this phenomenon in anything other a segment of Muslims opting to embrace a settler colonial power in the hope of achieving some hoped for worldly gain. While an immediate reference and link can be made to Christian Zionism and the call to use Islamic Zionism would be defensible, the Muslim Zionism is far more accurate than using “Islamic” in this case.

Certainly, I am open to alternative views on this matter, however, I do make a distinction between what Muslims do (individually, Muslim leaders or as group) versus what Islam is epistemologically, theologically and legally. Not everything a Muslim does is Islam or deemed Islamic even though sometimes individuals assert this linkage as a way to defend or obfuscate their action.

Here, we can say for sure that the current crop of Muslims who embrace Zionist settler colonialism are totally disconnected from Islamic epistemology, and its justice rooted message. The recent stampede by Arab and Muslim governments to join the “Abraham Accord” and framing it in reference to Prophet Ibrahim (PBBH) is precisely points to this creeping Muslim Zionism. One can say many things about the “Abraham Accord” but what we are certain about is that it is neither a “peace accord” to end settler colonialism in Palestine nor has any connection to Islam or Islamic values. At the root of the “Abraham Accords” are an attempt to bypass Palestinian sovereignty rights to their land, and the right of reuturn while allowing Israel to develop economic, political and social relations with Arabs and Muslim states.

What is Muslim Zionism? Muslim Zionism refers to normalization steps taken by Muslim individuals and states that seek to build relations with Israel and the Zionist settler colonial project in Palestine or abroad while clothing it in Islamic epistemological, legal or theological cloak. A ready cadre is marshaled to offer soothing Qur’anic or selected Prophetic statements (all are quoted out of context but this does not stop them from deploying it in their discourses) to sanction that which is beyond the pale, settler colonialism in Palestine.

The Muslim Zionist are individuals who engage and center their relationships with Israel and Zionism, while silencing, ignoring, demonizing, and blaming Palestinians for the on going conditions in Palestine. Blaming the victims of settler colonialism, the Palestinians, is offered as evidence of their “sophistication” and “intelligence” in developing relations with Zionism. Muslim Zionism locates its agency, upward mobility and access in circles of influence on the proximity and through the engagement with Jewish Zionism in the West and never missing an opportunity to use “Israel speak” to explain their action when challenged. Some hide behind a facade of not knowing what is going on and are only focused on promoting tolerance and a positive image of Islam no matter who is present.

Muslim Zionism posits that Palestinian resistance has failed and they, through their embrace of Israel and Zionism on VIP constructed projects, sports events and joint investments are actually helping the Palestinians-don’t laugh but some actually believe this self-serving view of the world.Some of these Muslim Zionist go as far as stating that all their action is undertaken to push forward the goal of Palestinian freedom but never at once asking the Palestinians themselves for their opinion on the matter. Others will always come back to the constant Zionist talking point of “suicide bombing” as the major problem while emphasizing their peaceful type of Islam is the one that should be given the stage-with Israeli representation at their side. The “good” Islam becomes represented by Muslim Zionism while the “bad” Islam resides in Palestine. Muslim Zionism reflects Israel Hasbara talking points while being dressed up in a defense of Islam clothing.

State level normalization efforts are not new and have been underway secretly since the early arrival of Zionism in the region but the attempt at dressing it up in Islamic cloak is relatively recent. The move toward this pattern of normalization begins with Anwar Sadat’s Camp David Agreement, which included the use of Qur’anic references and a well-crafted fatwa to provide a religious cover for embracing Zionism. Camp David was a political agreement that was part of Sadat’s reorientation of Egypt to the West. Sadat’s action was a strategic move in the height of the Cold War and the Qur’an and Islam was used as a tool to religiously dress-up the shift with an aura of legitimacy.

The religious scholars who gave fatwas or participated at one level or another were acting as state employees and their position reflects state priorities rather than being grounded in the Islamic tradition. Immediately after the signing of the Camp David Agreement, Israel launched its war on Lebanon, which caused thousands of death and the well-documented Sabra and Shatila Massacre . The dash toward Muslim Zionism normalization activities are couched as interfaith dialogue and an attempt to understand the history of Judaism. However, the effort to understand Judaism does not need an embrace of settler colonialism and demonization of the Palestinians in the process as well as an opposition to the engagement in the BDS movement.

Muslim Zionism engages in a very dimwitted set of projects and activities that does not go beyond the utilization of religious discourse to facilitate and provide an extension for settler colonialism in Palestine, as well as furthering the Western and Israeli intervention in the Arab and Muslim affairs. Lastly, Muslim Zionism has been given great deal of Oxygen in the main stream media in the Arab and Muslim world while also employing or purchasing the loyalties of a cadre of social media influencers to push the normalization narrative to a large body of unsuspecting Arab and Muslim populations.