Explaining the Appeal of Islamic State

Oct. 14 2014

 

In understanding the success of IS at recruiting members, it is important not to discount religion—the most obvious reason for its popularity even if, for many Western commentators, this is the last explanation to come to mind. Ayman Ibrahim writes:

IS is quite appealing to some as it serves as the fulfillment of the long-awaited dream of the one unified Muslim umma (community). With the emergence of IS, for the first time in centuries, Muslims from many ethnicities and cultural background can claim to be “one” in Allah’s restored caliphate. They pine for the “golden days” of Islam. . . . This makes IS’s message and call appealing especially to those who have been reading the recent happenings with an eye on the past sacred days of the Muslim prophet. In a recent interview with an IS recruit, Khadija (not her real name) was asked why she joined IS. She said that the recruiter promised, “We are going to properly implement Islam.” In short, the dream of the one unified umma replaces and surpasses every other dream, even the personal and national ones.

Read more at First Things

More about: ISIS, Radical Islam, Religion

Expand Gaza into Sinai

Feb. 11 2025

Calling the proposal to depopulate Gaza completely (if temporarily) “unworkable,” Peter Berkowitz makes the case for a similar, but more feasible, plan:

The United States along with Saudi Arabia and the UAE should persuade Egypt by means of generous financial inducements to open the sparsely populated ten-to-fifteen miles of Sinai adjacent to Gaza to Palestinians seeking a fresh start and better life. Egypt would not absorb Gazans and make them citizens but rather move Gaza’s border . . . westward into Sinai. Fences would be erected along the new border. The Israel Defense Force would maintain border security on the Gaza-extension side, Egyptian forces on the other. Egypt might lease the land to the Palestinians for 75 years.

The Sinai option does not involve forced transfer of civilian populations, which the international laws of war bar. As the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other partners build temporary dwellings and then apartment buildings and towns, they would provide bus service to the Gaza-extension. Palestinian families that choose to make the short trip would receive a key to a new residence and, say, $10,000.

The Sinai option is flawed. . . . Then again, all conventional options for rehabilitating and governing Gaza are terrible.

Read more at RealClear Politics

More about: Donald Trump, Egypt, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula