to be their prophets. mmm that doesn't explain y the Muslims try to kill their prophets offsprings, mmm weird isn't it.

It is obvious you don't live here and it is obvious you only pick what you want from the koran. This is a people who have vowed to drive us into the sea--whose goals and constitutions are to destroy us--who believe Jews have no historical claim to Israel or our holy sites. This article is pure crap written by someone with their head in the clouds.

The most important 1 is we both claim Avraham as our father.However,that is also where the differences begin. Avraham had a son by Sarahs maid Hagar & called him Ishmael. He then had a son by Sarah his wife and called him Yitzach. Yitzach was the son of promise. Hashem would carry out his eternal covenant to the Jews through him and his seed which we are decendants of. When Avraham was on his death bed,he blessed Yitzach and gave him ALL that he had. But to Ishmael, he gave him gifts AND SENT HIM AWAY.The promise to the Jews and the land go that far back. The 2nd one is around 670AD,a man who claime himself a prophet called mohammed came on the scene claiming that(in so many words),that he was the one who was here for the decendants of Ishmael,and that they were the chosen ones. But Hashem had already stated thousands of years before who is the apple of his eye.This war between jews and muslims is 2 fold. 1.Who are the true reciepients of the promise of Hashem.2.Who really is the true G-d,Hashem, or allah.This is really what all of this boils down to.Hashem has a wonderful recording of his love,mercy,&power for us. allah, well he just has his name written in ink, but NOTHING demonstrative to back anything up.

Hello Dan, What a lot to think about. The central question, for me, is the interconnection between religion and politics - which drives which? Lookng in from the outside at Jerusalem it seems that each goads the other. A basic need for us all is to express, and have recognised and valued, our identity - through worship and observance of culture and tradition. When this denied to us a large gap, through which politics can enter, opens up. There are always those, seeking to advantage themselves and their 'cause', waiting to rush in. Similarly when a political stalemate is reached religion is readily at hand. Somewhere in the middle those things which could unite rather than divide are lost. The rhetoric of dimissal and denial is engaged - each side failing to see that unreasonable accusations and assumptions against the other are bounced back forming a seemingly impenetrable wall. The most important part of dialogue, if we really want to learn and understand, is to listen each to the other. points of agrement are there, mutual respect does exist although it is often smothered by strident voices and a determined rejection by many. The Temple Mount has become an actual battleground symbolising a strugle for supremacy - both religious and political with both sides fearing a loss of identity and religious autonomy. People have to listen , not only to the 'other' but also to what the extrmists within their own ranks are actually saying and undestand where this may be leading them. Leni

Reuben Why is it right that Ishmael be disinherited? Some ancient Celtic laws recognised the 'illegitimate' son as the rightful heir if he was acknowledged by his father - this is now the norm in western societies if paternity can be proven. In the Celtic Christian church there is a Saint Ishmael - saint of the dispossessed. Raging rivers can be bridged - is it too much to hope that differences between men can be bridged also? Just need to build on the foundations on either side. Leni

and what is in common Muslims twisted to make it sound against Jews Who is this idiot Rickman and what has he been smoking lately?

Muslim friends and I have plenty in common. We virtually share dietary laws, we understand circumcision and fasting. There are some differences, most notably in every day life many Muslims do not drink alcohol. But once you move beyond views on Israel / Palestine, you find that most Muslims and most Jews in Britain and America are decent respectful people who are able to forge a friendship that 'others' (who think that conflict and persecusion must be at the centre of our identity) find hard to understand. But perhaps more of us should stop judging each other by a few lines in very old book,s and start to see each other as human beings.

Dan and Michael are right. Both in the positive eg family life, hospitality, etc and in the negative eg women's rights, bigotted leaders, there's much in common. With any religious book it can appear bloodcurdling when quoted out of or even in context. Many of the rituals are similar involving such things as burial, kosher/halal etc. The alcohol thingy I suspect for many of us might be a deal breaker were we to think of converting to Islam but with the rest we have far more in common than the bigots on both sides want to or have the insight to admit.

I like your "both religions have to....." just how to get them there is the problem.i

Shem is the common father, Abraham isn't even close to them. and since Abraham never married hagar, she was suppose to be a slave so in other words ishmael was born out side the marriege institute witch count him as bastard.

Hindus have much less in common religiously with Jews than but get along much better. I frankly don't care if they also don't eat pork and revere some of the same holy individuals we do. It obviously doesn't stop their hate-filled, supremacist and dominance-driven followers from slaughtering Jews in Mumbai, Istanbul, Casablanca, Djerba, Seattle, Houston, Buenos Aires, not to mention numerous foiled attempts. Many Muslims also believe Jews are hated by God for rejecting Muhammad as the final messenger and going astray and that fighting them in Jihad on Judgement Day is a must. Rickman probably doesn't speak a word of Arabic nor has he lived in a Muslim country for several months. I ask him to do that, trying to be an identifiable Jew, and then we can talk about how much we" have in common"

Sarah was Abraham's beloved wife. Hagar was her handmaiden, not Abraham's wife. Sarah was barren, so she offered Hagar as a surrogate. Ishmael was the resulting child. Then God unexpectedly granted Sarah a child, Isaac. The result was evidently conflict; the Old Testament is brutally honest about the very human conflicts that occurred in the lives of the patriarchs. Abraham, who loved Ishmael, initially refused Sarah's request to send Ishmael and Hagar away; he only gave in when God said that he would protect Ishmael. Abraham then sent Ishmael and Hagar away. The Old Testament records that Ishmael later became "a great nation" to the east and was the forefather of 12 of the tribes of the region. The Talmud describes how Abraham traveled to visit Ishmael several times afterward, meeting Ishmael's wives. Later still, Ishmael became penitent for his earlier actions, and returned and settled near Abraham for a time. He attended Abraham's funeral. Ishmael evidently felt that the outcome was fair enough. So Abraham only disinherited Ishmael from the land of Israel, which he left to Isaac alone; but God saw to it that the children of Ishmael eventually held a much larger area elsewhere. In most societies, even today, it is a parent's right to decide which children inherit what. Your efforts to apply modern European laws, which are designed for a modern society, to Abraham, a tribal chieftain who lived in Canaan 1000s of years ago, make no sense. If we are going to start going back and changing ancient territorial inheritances based on modern European laws, then the entire map of the world is going to have to be redrawn and massive populations moved around unjustly. Don't go there.

we could see that the discontent between muslim and Jews is really nothing more than a family feud. Much like the Americans Hatfield and McCoys. See, I really believe that Jews and Palestinians and Arab-Israelis can live side by side. But-----there must be rules,and recognitions on both sides. My neighbors cannot be allowed to say that Israel must be destroyed.Nor should they be allowed to receive weapons from other countries which are meant for my destruction. You see, Israel really does not want to govern the Palestinians. It really is quite a headache for us to do so.But then our will to stay alive is much stronger than the pain of a headache. All throughout our history we have had other peoples live along side us. But if you search that out, they were all made to live by our rules. Many that agreed prospered along with us. Those that would not obey the rules were driven out. By the way, Ishmael was not disinherited. Hashem made a covenant with him as well. It just was not the eternal covenant that Hashem has with us.Ishmael did very well for himself and his decendants. Search it out in the book of Genesis. It's not the Yehovah didn't like Ishmael,but he promised the blessing to Avraham, Yitzhak, Yacob. His choice, not mine. Shalom my friend, Shalom

this is the spirit we should be hanging on to, the minute we learn how to respect each other as human beings things will change...for all the other TB's especially the zionists, and specifically ghostq, it is useless repsponding to your messages as they are always full of hate and disgust, you guys fail to learn how to become decent/polite!

I am very nice person, I can assure you, giggle I even got turkish friend for real, and I consider him also zionist, yep.

Impolite with prophets, how come you dare saying that Prophet Ibrahim -may peace be upon him-had an illegal son!??!!? You even don't show any respect to prophets! Something else, there is nothing called Allah gave blessing to son and not the other, BUT, any human, male or female, who respect and obey the orders of Allah will be blessed, if human doesn't obey orders, s/he harming her/him self in this life and most important life after death. Things that people can oppress themselves with is, to steal others land, killing children and innocent men and women, and so many acts that the state of Israel is currenly doing.

they can be rude to their own father, ti hi, and abram left in his will the land to his rightfull heir izak and to his son IZAc and to his son jacob aka Israel even though jacob wasn't the first born but his twin didn't want the heritance, so jacob got the property. to Israel got 12 sons aka 12 tribes of Israel, juda was one and his tribe set right in the jerusalem area I think he was the second or third son the first was ruben.

As always Dan Rickman gives a well based and reasonable article. However he evades the central issue in jewish/muslim relations today which is the inability of Islam to acknowledge that non muslims are entitled to a political entity in Dar al Islam, eg the middle east. Although again there is a similarity with the Jewish view of the eternal God given land of Israel (to only the Jews), nevertheless most Rabbis would argue that this is negotiable for the cause of peace. In any case there is much vagueness as to where the actual borders of this land are. There is no such equivalent teaching in Islam.

thanks for comments to date (even the rude ones) please keep them coming! #1 - ghostq, The Hebrew Bible has us treating our own prophets badly go and learn. Later on the Roman Emperor Augustus said about Herod: "I would rather be Herod's pig than Herod's son" (guess which was more likely to live) nevertheless he re-built the 2nd Temple and is something of a hero in Jewish history - what is your point? #2 - thanks! lots of extreme assertions there, one tends to make the world in ones own image - perhaps one day the world could be a better place? what would the much maligned original Bruria have wanted one wonders? #3 Reuben - the current conflict which started with secular zionist movement wasn't a religious one, surely we should try to avoid it becoming so? #4 thanks Leni - I said above that I find it astonishing when people blame others for our "humiliation" regarding the Temple Mount - tradition provides reasons for the loss of the Temple (bloodshed and causeless hatred), surely the role of religion is to start by looking inwards rather than taking the easy path of blaming the "other" for all the issues. Regarding politics, very hard to completely separate religion and politics especially given their eschatology - best to limit their power where possible;-) #8, mbozar hi thanks am tempted to agree re alcohol! #11, try addressing the issues rather than raising ad hominem and/or irrelevancies with all due respect. Of course there are major issues how does one address them as positively as possible - throwing around abuse doesn't seem a great way forward? #16 appreciating hearing a Muslim voice albeit that you don't seem that open to dialogue which is a great shame ... however you feel about what the Israeli government is doing, there is scope for greater understanding on a personal and religious level between Jews and Muslims #18 Robert thanks I touched on this when I said "Both religious traditions have to address the conflicts between their world views and modern democracy." I note btw that there is much vagueness in Jewish sources regarding the borders of Eretz Israel (though modern day Eilat is probably outside them!). I don't imagine that inter faith dialogue will resolve the overall conflict and that isn't my subject (dare I write about such things!) however greater mutual understanding. As for rabbinic views regarding land for peace, the support has been limited over the years and the majority religious zionist view has been negative to very negative about this. Haredi views are more complex perhaps.

What are you saying? OF COURSE we have so much in common? Hate-filled? When was the last time you read through comments even here, on Ynetnews? Even your commentary is, I suppose, "filled with love" Racist? Isn't on mocei shabat written "..you who separate sacred of profound, Israel from Goyim..." Isn't in Tanya written "Goyim do not have a soul like Jews, they have only animal soul" Supremacistic? Go in simple orthodox Jewish community in old Europe, and you will see what is supremacism, even towards its members: who has an ounce more blood, who has "better" lineage etc. Dominance-driven? How would you describe followers of SHAS or of Haredim' "Free minded, free thinking, not influenced at all"? You be a supremacistic, dominace driven, hatefilled prick and all you will get upon your ass are - supremacistic, hate-filled dominace driven pricks. It's that simple.

I agree with you, we share good and, unfortunately , bad values,all that you mentioned is absolutely true, except that, i would dare any muslim (i am a muslim) to prove to me that god prohibited alcohol in islam, he did ask us to stay away, but not in the sense of prohibition as is the case with other issues...it's only in the mind of the radicals that alcohol is forbidden, but then, who am i to question that! Peace to you , to Dan Rackman and all of you out there, even the haters ;)

Technically the Sharia is the Islamic Law. The Hadiths are the Oral Transmissions (now written down) something like a commentary on the Koran.

Dan Thanks for response. The looking inwards is important - although it has led to seperation and schism in the past - and still causes dissent and argument today. How do we challenge received wisdom and 'group think' without being sen a traitor or trouble maker? Several posters have cited individual friendships betwen people of different religions - it is generally the case that personal contact , seeing others as people - can bridge many idealogical divides and find common ground. It is the defence of the group or the movement which creates borders and limitations on tolerance. Looking inward in matters of faith asks us to look not only at ourselves but also at the texts and traditons which have shaped us and the group to which we belong. We then have to look at other in an openand receptive way if we hope to understand them. Recogntionof our common humanity and of our own tendency to simple accept that 'our way' is the right one - simply because it is familiar and comforting - is a first step in healing the wounds which separate us all and which lead to so much conflict and suffering. Leni

where the hell did you get that idea he wasn't even allowed to go to the temple. he was a king and the israelit coudn't stand him, that's y he wasn't buried in jerusalem like the other monarchs, he was left dying in his palace he built for himself you heard on Herodion, and even chritians know he was a fruit cake, he wasn't even jewish only half jewish, neither jews or chritians sees him as religious person. they found his tomb 5 years ago. after he murdered his own family. two of his children and his wife and his brother in law. so you go and read the old testament cause you have no idea what you r saying, and againe he wasn't religious person and none worship him.

r involved in drink and drive accident in countries like canada, I got a friend who work in insurance compeny and she showed me how many muslims r involved, you be surprise how many. really I am not being racist on this one, go check the insurance statistic. you will find it shocking.

you never fail to amuse us with your replies...what is your point about muslims drinking and driving in canada? are they the only ones doing so? don't you have PLENTY of drunk drivers in israel? aren't they everywhere? of different religions or nationalities? drink driving is not a problem attributed to religion, it is an attitude problem being fought everywhere, including israel.

just because you close your eyes it doesn't means the phenomena isn't there. it's you who claimed muslim don't drink so I brought you fact to open your eyes, muslim drink they even left empty bottels in holy site like in nazarath where jesus christ jumped, at least be honest I personaly love to drink(but not before driving) and I am honest about it but muslim don't they claim not to but reality speak for it self. breaking you own laws I reckon, it's worse cause when you don't recognize phenomena(like drinking) it's there and out of controll.

Hi my apologies that was a mistake on my part and thank you for the correction

you just confirmed my point about you man!! you are unbelievable, i don't know what kind of education you got sir, but honestly, there's something weird about you! you completely missed my point about alcohol and muslims! read it again and trying to understand what the hell i was talking about because you just deviated towards a different issue. I never said mulisms don't drink! (Sigh) just go figure it out yourself i am completely bored now...

Alcohol is maybe not prohibited in the quran , but in many muslim countries it is . A friend of me was imprisoned two days in Libya [ many years ago ] for having two bottles of alcohol in his lugage . As he had to have discussions with a minister there he was freed rapidly , he only lost his bottles , two days [ but not his head ! LOL ]