For centuries, Jews and Muslims have lived alongside one another in many parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Although there have certainly been periods of conflict and persecution, the history of Jewish-Muslim relations is not simply a history of hatred and warfare. Islam's holy book, the Quran, contains numerous positive references to the Children of Israel and to the Torah. For example, the Quran states that God gave Moses the Scripture and describes the Children of Israel as inheritors of it (40:53). In another passage, the Quran refers to the Torah and the Quran together when discussing divine guidance (28:49). It also speaks of the Children of Israel dwelling in the land (17:104).
The history of antisemitism in Muslim societies is more complicated than it is sometimes portrayed. Antisemitism existed in some Muslim societies before the twentieth century, but modern European racial antisemitism also influenced parts of the Muslim world during the twentieth century. One of the most significant examples was the relationship between Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, and Adolf Hitler during World War II. The Grand Mufti chose to cooperate with Nazi Germany and promoted opposition to Zionism and the Jewish people. However, this should not be understood as representing all Muslims or the entire history of Islam.
There have also been important examples of improving relations between Israel and Muslim-majority countries. In 2020, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain established diplomatic relations with Israel through agreements facilitated by the United States under President Donald Trump. These agreements demonstrated that cooperation and recognition between Israel and Arab countries are possible despite the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
There are also examples of Jewish-Muslim cooperation in the history of Yemen. According to stories passed down about Jewish life in Yemen, there was a Yemeni ruler who emphasized that the law should protect Jews and Muslims equally, expressing the principle that if a Muslim harmed a Jew, it should be treated the same way as if a Muslim had harmed another Muslim. Yemeni Jews reportedly respected this principle and valued the protection they received.
There are also stories of cooperation between Jewish and Muslim communities in everyday life. For example, some Yemeni Jews would ask Muslims to help enforce the observance of Shabbat within their communities. If a Jew was not observing Shabbat, Muslims could be called upon to reprimand the person. Although this may seem unusual today, it illustrates how closely Jewish and Muslim communities could interact and cooperate in traditional Yemeni society.
The idea that Jews and Muslims share important historical connections can also be seen in the Constitution of Medina, traditionally attributed to the Prophet Muhammad. The document established agreements between Muhammad's followers and several Jewish tribes and communities in Medina. It included provisions concerning mutual obligations and collective defense of the city. While historians debate the precise nature and historical development of the document, it provides an important example of an early Muslim community establishing political agreements with Jewish communities.
My own experiences have reinforced my belief that Jews and Muslims are capable of living together peacefully. I have a photo album containing pictures of myself, an Israeli-born person, with Palestinians, Muslims, and Arabs. I have also met people from many different backgrounds who have treated me with friendship and kindness.
I am known for my efforts toward world peace, and on one occasion, an older woman from Afghanistan whom I met in college told me that she believed I was making the world a better place. I also once spoke with a Palestinian woman who liked me, but she explained that we could not date because her family would not allow it.
These experiences have taught me that people should not be defined solely by their nationality, religion, or political conflict. Jews and Muslims have a long and complicated history, but that history also contains examples of friendship, cooperation, mutual protection, and peaceful coexistence. My own experiences with Palestinians, Muslims, and Arabs have shown me that personal relationships can cross boundaries that political conflicts often make seem impossible to cross.
The following is a photo of myself, an Israeli rapper, and a Palestinian beatboxer before we performed in front of Trigonometry class at College of the Canyons in 2012.
The following is the video footage of our presentation in front of class:
© 2026 Hazon, Nir
