In Not in God’s Name, Britain’s former chief rabbi rebuts the charge that religion is, in itself, an incurable source of brutal violence, seeks out the causes of religious violence, and suggests ways such violence—especially in the form of modern-day jihadism—can be checked. Michael Rosen writes in his review:

Sacks’s footing is firmest when he’s interpreting biblical texts and deriving ethical lessons from them; he paints the vivid characters populating Genesis with unrivaled poise, passion, and sensitivity. His language sparkles, too, when outlining the trajectory of Jewish history in its biblical and rabbinic eras, from its bellicose origins to its quietist present and equally so when exploring Christianity’s similar evolution.

Sacks is less persuasive, however, when explaining how that transformation can be replicated today, especially by Islam. For instance, in describing how the Jews sublimated their injunction to destroy the biblical nation of Amalek into a metaphor for pure evil, both internal and external, as a “struggle within the soul,” Sacks suggests how Islamists might reinterpret jihad. But are they listening? Should they be? . . . That the Jews have largely renounced violence hardly means Islamists will do the same.

If this book has a flaw, it’s this: it ought to appeal to all good-hearted religious people. However, the bad-hearted religious people don’t seem to be listening and the good-hearted secular folks don’t really need to. Sacks concludes by urging “an international campaign against the teaching and preaching of hate,” insisting on “reciprocal altruism” and recognizing that “we are all children of Abraham.” Will his call be enough to turn the tide of religious violence? Probably not. Must we heed it anyway? Absolutely.

How did Qatar, an American ally, become the nerve center of the leading Palestinian jihadist organization? Natalie Ecanow explains.

When Jordan expelled Hamas in 1999, Qatar offered sanctuary to the group, which had already become notorious for using suicide-bombing attacks over the previous decade. . . . Hamas chose to relocate to Syria. However, that arrangement lasted for only a decade. With the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, the terror group found its way back to Qatar.

In 2003, Hamas leaders reportedly convened in Qatar after the IDF attempted to eliminate Hamas’s founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, following a Hamas suicide bombing in Jerusalem that killed seven people, including two American citizens. This episode led to one of the first efforts by Qatar to advocate for its terror proxy.

Thirteen years and five wars between Hamas and Israel later, Qatar’s support for Hamas has not waned. . . . To this day, Qatari officials maintain that the office came at the “request from Washington to establish indirect lines of communication with Hamas.” However, an Obama White House official asserted that there was never any request from Washington. . . . Inexplicably, the United States government continues to rely on Qatar to negotiate for the release of the hostages held by Hamas, even as the regime hosts the terror group’s political elite.

A reckoning is needed between our two countries. Congressional hearings, legislation, executive orders, and other measures to regulate relations between our countries are long overdue.