Istanbul university history professor: Zionism has exploited Judaism

Professor of history of Istanbul universities said, "Zionists have exploited religion. They have used Judaism as a pretext since the first leaders and founders of Zionism were mostly atheist, agnostic, or deist, and didn't believe in any religion. In other words, Zionism is a fascist ideology which has exploited Judaism."

Islam Ozkan, professor of history and journalist, in a recent interview with the Iranian news agency, Iqna, pointed to the importance of Quds and Palestine in the history of religions and said, "Familiarity with the history of Quds is very important and the history of religions and holy books have referred to the part of it.

Israelis, citing the past two-thousand-year history, call themselves the owners of the Palestinian territory. Although some modern-day Zionists do not accept such a history and consider the birth of Israel as the outcome of crimes and occupation, unfortunately, say that the Israeli regime, like any other illegitimate brat, is entitled to live; hence, justify the presence of this regime in the region."

He added, "Palestine is not a religious issue between Muslims and Jews so that we want to examine it given the history of religions. Today, Palestine is a political issue, occupation of a land and usurpation of a territory. However, the occupiers try to define it as a religious issue to consider Palestine as the Promised Land that God has promised to Jews."

Islam Ozkan, in response to the question, "How should the issue of Palestine be analyzed and defined given human rights and justice", stated, "From the legal point of view, the Palestinian territory has been occupied unjustly. From the viewpoint of human justice, too, the early inhabitants of Palestine have lost their right to life in that territory and the occupiers have declared their territory as their own country, and this is opposite to human justice."

Ozkan went on to say, "Even if we want to look at the issue more humanely, we should say that it is not our claim that Quds belongs to Muslims. We rather say that Quds belongs to Palestinians, including Muslims, Jews, and Christians. And we had better say that Quds belongs to human beings. If today the occupiers exit this usurped territory, like the Ottoman era, Jews will have the right to life in Quds and every religion can practice their own rituals according to their faith. Moreover, Christians, too, will practice their rituals freely; just like when Hamas speaks of Palestine and says, 'Quds belongs to us. The churches, synagogues, and mosques are ours.' Quds does not exclusively belong to Muslims. Quds belongs to Palestinians including Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Whenever we liberate Palestine, religions will be able to practice their religious rituals easily and no one will have the right to meddle in their freedom of religion and faith."

This Turkish analyst made it clear, "In other words, the issue of Palestine is an issue which matters to whosoever has freedom-seeking and humane thoughts."

Referring to the view of Zionists on Judaism, he added, "The best answer that I can give to this, is that Zionists have indeed exploited religion. They have used Judaism as a pretext since the first leaders and founders of Zionism were mostly atheist, agnostic, or deist, and didn't believe in any religion."

Today, Zionists, despite their secularism, constantly mention verses of the Torah in their statements and refer to the Talmud which is tantamount to their hypocrisy and abuse of the religious beliefs of Jews. They are in pursuit of the racial ruling. In other words, Zionism is a fascist ideology which has exploited Judaism."

Islam Ozkan, in response to the question on the view of the holy Qur'an towards Jews, stated, "The Qur'an does not condemn Jews for their race, but castigates them because of exiting religion and causing corruption on the earth."

It is also interesting to know that in verses 47 and 122 of chapter Al-Baqara of the holy Qur'an, God says, "O Children of Israel! Remember My blessing which I bestowed upon you, and that I gave you an advantage over all the nations." In this verse, God calls on the Israelites to remember the blessings given to them. In various verses, God reminds the Israelites of some of these blessings which reveal the superiority of Israelites and Jews over the people of the world. But, this superiority is related to the time when their scribes and their monks had not distorted the religion and would not ignore moral principles; as the holy Qur'an says about them, "Be you spurned apes." Therefore, neither the praise of Jews nor their castigation in the Qur'an is not due to their race, it is rather because of their deeds.

Source: Pustchian, Akbar, 2024. conversation with Islam Ozkan, Zionism has exploited Judaism, Iqna news agency

Key phrases: Importance of Quds, Zionism, Jews, holy Qur'an, Muslims, Palestine  

RM/BK