DOCSLIB.ORG

MA Field Work Report: Israel-Palestinian Conflict Shazia Noor During My Studies in the MA in Diplomacy Programme, I Had Found Th

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
MA Field Work Report: Israel-Palestinian Conflict Shazia Noor During My Studies in the MA in Diplomacy Programme, I Had Found Th MA Field Work Report: Israel-Palestinian Conflict Shazia Noor During my studies in the MA in Diplomacy programme, I had found that my key interest were in the areas of crisis management, approaches to negotiation, international law and international organizations, which also happened to be the core element of my dissertation topic. Having been exposed to the peace processes, I was keen to undertake further research into to the under-workings of negotiation and dialogue to understand the crucial preliminary stages for the purpose of developing a template for future dialogue between inner-religious conflicts. The focus of my dissertation is the politics of Islam in Pakistan and the State-sanctioned discrimination against minorities, in particular, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. While the research largely looks at Pakistan’s domestic policies and international law, the detailed analysis covers the escalation in persecution not only in Pakistan but also in other parts of the Muslim world and suggests that Islamization of the law and culture is a transnational threat to human ‘Mahmood Mosque’ in Kababir, Haifa, Israel rights. It is for this reason I The only Mosque of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the Middle East. decided that Israel was ideal for my field research to understand the plight of the Ahmadiyya sect in the Muslim world. An outsider may be oblivious to the fact that the only Ahmadi Muslim Mosque, in all of the Middle East or Arab world, is located in Haifa, Israel, not by choice, but by the continued discrimination by the Islamists in their attempts to eradicate the community from the Islamic world and elsewhere around the world. Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These lectures were also supplemented with study tours to gain first-hand experience of the places of conflict, which included the Palestinian territories, Israeli borders, and both Arab and Jewish settlements. This unique opportunity gave me insights to build my own research into ethnic and religious conflicts within the nation and discuss international obligations. I was able to secure an interview session with The Dome of the Rock the Head of the Ahmadiyya sect in Haifa and conducted a series of The fieldwork was carried out in interviews with community Israel at the Galilee International members to understand the th Management Institute from July 4 persecution of the Ahmadiyya sect th to July 28 2011, where I was by the Islamists groups, such as introduced to both Israeli and Hamas. This type of information Palestinian academics who gathering would not have been imparted their knowledge of the possible if it was conducted in a issues and peace solutions in the Muslim country. I was fortunate to spend time with prominent actors in the field of peace building process, such as Dr. Yair Hirshfeld, who was a key architect of the Oslo Accords in 1993 and Hiba Husseini, JD, who is the managing partner of Husseini and Husseini, a West Bank-based law firm and currently the chair of the Legal Committee to Final Status Negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis. Their insights to the preliminary stages of negotiation and mediation tactics At the Galilee Institute with Dr. Yair Hirschfeld will remain the absolute highlight of my stay. The view of Jerusalem This was truly an enriched experience that has provided me an opportunity to build important contacts with personnel in international politics, and gave me the foundation of dialogue and international cooperation for my research. Thank you IAPS Tomlinson Travel Award for supplementing my journey. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Jesus Christ Liberator Then and Now
    Jesus Christ Liberator Then And Now Facing The Legacy Of Injustice The 10th International SabeelConference March 7-13, 2017 120 Years marking the First Zionist Conference 100 Years marking the Balfour Declaration 70 Years marking the Partition Plan 50 Years of occupation 30 Years marking the first Intifada 10 Years of PalestinianDivisions 2017, A Year of Jubilee PB 1 Bethlehem Monday March 6th Recommended day of arrivals 2:00 pm Check-in & Registration 6:00 – 9:00 pm Dinner at hotel (3rd floor dining room) Bethlehem Bethlehem Hotel Tuesday, March 7th– Bethlehem 6:00 am Checkpoint experience visit with EAPPI 5:30-9:00 am Breakfast (3rd floor dining room) International Sabeel Conference Sabeel International th 8:00 am Optional sightseeing tours in Bethlehem (Political and Religious) 11:00 am OCHA briefing on the Humanitarian Situation in the West Bank and Gaza. Speaker: Catharine Cook (2nd floor conference room) The 10 12:15 pm Lunch at Bethlehem Hotel 1:30 pm Depart hotel to Church of St. Catherine’s for worship 2:00 pm Opening Worship at Church of St. Catherine’s Sermon: Rev. Naim Ateek 3:00 pm Depart for Bethlehem Hotel 3:15 pm Welcome – Vera Baboun, Mayor of Bethlehem 3:30 pm The Background and Resulting Impact of the Balfour Declaration 1) Mary Grey: The Theological Underpinnings of the Balfour Declaration 2) Peter Shambrook: The Historical and Political Context that Produced the Declaration 3) Leslie Orr: The Practical Steps Necessary to Address Balfour’s Legacy Today 4:30 pm Coffee break 5:00 pm Q&A 5:30 pm The Balfour Declaration
    [Show full text]
  • 35 Ahmadiyya
    Malaysian Journal of International Relations, Volume 6, 2018, 35-46 ISSN 2289-5043 (Print); ISSN 2600-8181 (Online) AHMADIYYA: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PERSECUTED COMMUNITY Abdul Rashid Moten ABSTRACT Ahmadiyya, a group, founded in 19th century India, has suffered fierce persecution in various parts of the Muslim world where governments have declared them to be non-Muslims. Despite opposition from mainstream Muslims, the movement continued its proselytising efforts and currently boasts millions of followers worldwide. Based on the documentary sources and other scholarly writings, this paper judges the claims made by the movement's founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, analyses the consequences of the claims, and examines their proselytizing strategies. This paper found that the claims made by Mirza were not in accordance with the belief of mainstream Muslims, which led to their persecution. The reasons for their success in recruiting millions of members worldwide is to be found in their philanthropic activities, avoidance of violence and pursuit of peace inherent in their doctrine of jihad, exerting in the way of God, not by the sword but by the pen. Keywords: Ahmadiyya, jihad, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Pakistan, philanthropy INTRODUCTION The Qur’an categorically mentions that Muhammad is the last in the line of the Prophets and that no prophet will follow him. Yet, there arose several individuals who claimed prophethood in Islam. Among the first to claim Prophecy was Musailama al-Kazzab, followed by many others including Mirza Hussein Ali Nuri who took the name Bahaullah (glory of God) and formed a new religion, the Bahai faith. Many false prophets continued to raise their heads occasionally but failed to make much impact until the ascendance of the non-Muslim intellectual, economic and political forces particularly in the 19th century A.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Wishing Everyone a Happy Passover - Chag Sameach! Yom Hashoah Commemoration Sunday, April 23, at 3:30 Pm
    Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage E PAID Norwich, CT 06360 Permit #329 TH RETURN TO: 28 Channing St., New London, CT 06320 Serving The Jewish Communities of Eastern Connecticut & Western R.I. CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED VOL. XLIII NO. 7 PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY WWW.JEWISHLEADERWEBPAPER.COM APRIL 7, 2017/11 NISAN 5777 NEXT DEADLINE APRIL 14, 2017 16 PAGES HOW TO REACH US - BY PHONE 860-442-8062 • BY FAX 860-443-4175 • BY EMAIL [email protected] • BY MAIL: 28 CHANNING STREET, NEW LONDON, CT 06320 Wishing Everyone a Happy Passover - Chag Sameach! Yom Hashoah Commemoration Sunday, April 23, at 3:30 pm On the Com- and Spiritual Life and the Zachs Hillel House of munity Holocaust Commemoration Service will Connecticut College. be held at the Zachs Hillel House on the campus The film documents how seventeen other of Connecticut College. individuals turned down the Unitarian Asso- There will be a musical prelude, a responsive ciation’s request for relief volunteers and how reading and a Memorial Candle Lighting cere- Waitstill and Martha Sharp committed to the mony with survivors and children of survivors dangerous mission. “Defying the Nazis: The lighting candles while students from the gener- Sharps’ War” is the story of their humanitar- al and Jewish community and from the College ian work and the effect it had on their lives. The will narrate a dedication for each candle. Sharp’s left their two young children behind Following the Commemoration Service, we in Wellesley, Massachusetts and traveled to will adjourn to the Olin Science Center theater Czechoslovakia to aid refugees just as war was for a 4:30 screening of “Defying the Nazis: The about to break out in Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • “Made New in Christ” Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:10-18
    A communion meditation delivered by the Rev. Timothy C. Ahrens, senior minister at the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Columbus, Ohio, January 2, 2011, Christmas 2, dedicated to all the women, men and children of Egypt, especially the 21 murdered and the 97 injured early January 1 outside the Al-Qiddissine (The Saints) Church, to all the children of Abraham who live with God‟s grace, truth and light, and always to the glory of God! “Made New in Christ” Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:10-18 Yesterday, the year opened in Alexandria, Egypt, with a suicide bomber attacking Christians leaving a midnight mass. Twenty-one people were blown apart and 97 sustained injuries. Those killed and those injured with mostly Christians. But Muslims, out celebrating New Year’s in this mostly Muslim neighborhood, were also killed. I saw the Church of All Saints several months ago while traveling with my friend Mohammed. We didn’t enter it. I spoke with him yesterday. He asked for prayers for all of Egypt. In an email from my friend Helbees Zahar in Cairo received early this morning, Helbees writes: Dear Tim, Thank you so much for your nice heart. My family are safe and I am well, don't worry. All this was heart breaking to everybody not only the ones who had lost family members or friends. Please keep praying for all Egyptians, not only Christians. Love, Helbees ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ May the words of my mouth and the meditations of each one of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our strength and our salvation.
    [Show full text]
  • Carl· Alpert ______
    . -- '\ 0 .. " ' • ...,.,.:;,0 > • .. ,,·: • .:..:..::'....;'..' ··"--• •'• ·r -0:;-=- : .- ;.- • ,.. - -' 'i'' -;:-•7; ':-: L> .. ':::.:·.: • > -- ·------......::--~K--- ( _.. .•,,>]0-< Tou !"",'-"""' .--;;~~-·--::.:~-~ ' - ""~"'"""''~Oo LO -~~~-· - ~-.':"., ~.:.--. ~ ~.~;;::... " 0 '>0• ' - ·-,~~~., ~~-··· -~ 'J'r,_,'-=~'::~ -""'' "":""~. ' 0 0 0~ ' 0 j ••. ;--=rt~.f.~ -'"~-~~1·7-'.:;;_,~..:;.-~::- -:.~: .f':-\:: -~ •' :_:; ~-. '.~ ,t<.r.r!"tM r.~ . .:t ~ ~·' ), ' ~HUVIIICI~L Llb•••AV PAR ENT OLD~S Vi Ill .,,,, ,.. , .. , "', -:r \'' .. ... ' . ' ov~~J smN~~ro~ ]JiL': .. : DEPARTMENT' OF NEAR EASTERN ' AND JUDAIC STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA l~.R Due to the fact. Ithat the first' ' day • I of school at the' University of Mani- ' .. .' ...'-------....,.--- CARL· ALPERT _________... toba will coincide with Rosh Hash- IS 5 UNIQUE ARAB VILLAGE anah, Time Table· setting· will take ' ' place on Thursday, September 23rd ' (Successors .. to "The 'Israelite Press) loc. haifa - Kababir is the na'me of in .the,.puilding' trades, especially as at 5:30 p.m. in Room 405, Isbister ~IKfU,!lUll ,!1W,,.... ,ll'1 11! "' · · · · · · an Arab village here on Mount stone ''masons. They are the ones Building. ·· , OFfiCEi 23o 'cATHEDRAL AVE. (CORNER MAIN ~EEl'). Carmel. it Is one of the most unique ·who have built many of the lbvely This applie' to all classes with PHONE: 588-8187 · · P.O. BOX 3816 'WINNIPEG 4, MA!f. and most interesting Arab villages 1Jewish. homes and villas on Mount .1971 ' the exception of Hebrew 90 and PEARL WEISENBERG, Editor •in ·the· country. Its name is ·men- :Carmel. Jt would appear.•. th~t their Hebrew 120 which will meet in ' . ' tloned occaslonaNy, In. tourist guide ·women folk must have chided them F: St:lllrt:lrt•. Advertllilng M•nt~~~~~t their slots on Wednesdday. • books, but tourists have never heard for building such homes for others, The class in History of Jewish of it and never visit it, except those yvhile they continued to live In, the Thought 55:332 will meet at 7 p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • HUZOOR's TOUR of GERMANY & BELGIUM 2018 Part 2 a Personal
    HUZOOR’S TOUR OF GERMANY & BELGIUM 2018 Part 2 A Personal Account By Abid Khan 1 Introduction to Part 2 In part 1 of this diary, I wrote about the first week of Huzoor’s tour of Germany in September 2018. In this part, I write about the final few days of Huzoor’s visit to Germany and then about his visit to Belgium, where Huzoor also graced the Jalsa Salana with his presence. During the final days of the tour, Huzoor met with many guests, dignitaries, media, as well as hundreds of Ahmadis. Many meetings were extremely emotional and faith inspiring. I consider a great blessing to have attended and to be able to recount some details in the coming pages. A healing hand One day, during the Germany Jalsa, I heard Mansoor (Huzoor’s grandson) had not been feeling well. When I saw him, later in the day, I asked him how he was. In response, Mansoor said: “I wasn’t feeling well at night and in the morning. I could not sleep at all until around Fajr time because I had a splitting headache. However, after Fajr, Huzoor came to see me and he gave me a glass of milk mixed with honey and also gave me paracetamol. After that, I was finally able to sleep and when I woke up I felt better.” 2 It was a beautiful and rare insight into how Huzoor continues to care for his family and loved ones and fulfils his familial duties despite being so busy. In fact, anyone who has seen Huzoor from close range will testify to the fact that the way Huzoor cares and loves for his family is an example for all mankind.
    [Show full text]
  • The Jewish Nakba
    For the forgotten victims of Hate at Israel’s Birth, a Memorial The Jewish Nakba By Jerry Klinger As the missiles of terror and death to the Jews crashed randomly into Israel without regard or concern for civilian life, a unique memorial, the first ever in the world and certainly Israel, was erected prominently sited on Jerusalem’s Haas Promenade. It is a Memorial messaged that very few in the non-Jewish world, especially the Muslim world, know about. Unfortunately, too many in the Jewish world know little about it too. The Memorial is formally titled the Departure and Expulsion Memorial. The title follows the theme of a long-overdue Knesset Law passed in 2014. The law requires the teaching of what happened to the Jews from Arab lands and Iran with the birth of Israel. In 1948, there were over 1,000,000 Jews living in Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen/Aden, and Iran. Today, in all of the Arab world and Iran, less than 10,000 remain. Jews had lived in these lands for over two thousand years. With the birth of modern Israel, Jews in Arab lands and Iran were forced, compelled, threatened, “encouraged” to leave, too frequently on pain of death. They had to abandon their homes, property, businesses, and the resting places of their families of generations and generations. They were never given the option of return, or compensation. The Jews were ethnically cleansed from Arab lands and Iran. Desperate Jewish refugees were not and are not wanted by the world.
    [Show full text]
  • ׳€!)E ;Palesttne #A?Ette
    e ;palesttne #a?ette(!€׳ NO. 1537 THURSDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER, 1946 1109 CONTENTS Page ORDINANCE CONFIRMED ־ - - Confirmation of Ordinance No. 36 of 1946 - 1111 GOVERNMENT NOTICES Obituary ­ ­ ­ ­ 1111 Appointments, etc. ­ ' ­ ­ ­ ­ ­1111 Palestine Matriculation Examination, July 1946 — Pass List ­ llll Counterfoil Book stolen ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ 1115 Claims for Mutilated Currency Notes ­ ­ ­ ­ 1115 Citation Orders ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ 1116 Notice of Sale of Immovables mo RETURNS Summary of Receipts and Payments for the Year ended 31st March, 1946, of the Local Council of Hadera !!20 Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31st March, 1946, of the Local Council of Hadera ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ 1121 Summary of Receipts and Payments for the Year ended 31st March, 1946, of the Local Council of Bassa U22 Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31st March, 1946, of the Local Council of ־ ­ ­ ­ ­ Bassa ­ ­ 1123 Persons changing their Names ­­­­­ 1124 Quarantine and Infectious Diseases Summary ­ ­ ­ ­ 1127 NOTICES REGARDING COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES, BANKRUPTCIES, ETC. ­ • ­ ­ 1127 CORRIGENDA ­ , ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ 1129 SUPPLEMENT No. 2. The following subsidiarij legislation is published in Supplement No. 2 which forms part of this Gazette: — Orders Nos; 24 and 25 of 1946, under the Medical Practitioners Ordinance, cancelling certain Licences to practise Medicine ­ ­ ­ ­ 1385 Vesting Orders Nos. 265 and 266, under the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1939, revoking Vesting Orders Nos. 107 and 7, respectively, and other Orders, in so far as they concern the Property of certain Persons ­ 1386 Vesting Order No. 267, under the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1939, vesting certain Property in the Custodian of Enemy Property ­ 1386 Vesting Orders Nos. 268, 269 and 270, under the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1939, revoking Vesting Ordei­s Nos.
    [Show full text]
  • Full-Day Tours – Jerusalem/Tel Aviv Subject to Change
    Maccabi Youth Games FULL-DAY TOURS – JERUSALEM/TEL AVIV SUBJECT TO CHANGE THE FIRST HEBREW CITY Visit the place where David Ben Gurion declared ISRAEL'S INDEPENDENCE in 1948 / Tour NEVE TZEDEK, first Hebrew neighborhood in 1909 of what became Tel Aviv / Authentic Jaffa restaurant for lunch / Browse through streets and alleys of Jaffa FLEA MARKET / Spectacular bird's eye view over the city from the 51st Floor in Azrieli Mall / Tour ends on the boardwalk promenade of TEL AVIV OLD PORT. YOU SHOULD BRING: SUNGLASSES / CAP / WALKING SHOES THE JUDEAN DESERT v1 – LIKE NOWHERE ELSE ON THE PLANET Selfie from the LOWEST PLACE on EARTH / RIDE A CAMEL @ NOKDIM VILLAGE / Traditional BEDOUIN Hospitality & Hafla (Feast) / CABLE CAR up to visit awesome MASADA, and (weather-permitting) on foot down the Roman Ramp / FLOAT on the DEAD SEA , 33 times saltier than seawater – merciless sun, hot & dry air, rocky & stony ground, so YOU SHOULD BRING: SUNGLASSES / CAP or other light headcover / SUN LOTION, preferably SUN BLOCK / WALKING SHOES &/or SANDALS (flip-flops OK only at Dead Sea shore / SWIMSUIT & BATHING TOWEL THE JUDEAN DESERT v2 – WHERE THERE'S WATER, THERE'S LIFE Visit EIN GEDI Nature Reserve, wade the cool river waters / Lunch at Ein Gedi Youth Hostel / CABLE CAR up to MASADA, and down by Cable Car / FLOAT on the DEAD SEA – Merciless Sun, hot & dry Air, rocky & stony Ground, so YOU SHOULD BRING: SUNGLASSES / CAP or other appropriate head cover / SUN LOTION, preferably SUN BLOCK / WALKING SHOES &/or sturdy SANDALS (flip-flops OK only at Dead Sea shore)
    [Show full text]
  • Two Sides of the Coin: Independence and Nakba 1948
    TWO SIDES OF THE COIN: INDEPENDENCE AND NAKBA 1948 TWO NARRATIVES OF THE 1948 WAR AND ITS OUTCOME وﺟﻬﺎ اﻟﻌﻤﻠﺔ: اﻻﺳﺘﻘﻼل واﻟﻨﻜﺒﺔ ﺳﺮدﻳﺘﺎن ﺣﻮل ﺣﺮب 1948 وﻧﺘﺎﺋﺠﻬﺎ INSTITUTE FOR HISTORICAL JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION SERIES Published under editorial responsibility of The Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation The Hague VOLUME 5 TWO SIDES OF THE COIN: INDEPENDENCE AND NAKBA 1948 TWO NARRATIVES OF THE 1948 WAR AND ITS OUTCOME وﺟﻬﺎ اﻟﻌﻤﻠﺔ: اﻻﺳﺘﻘﻼل واﻟﻨﻜﺒﺔ ﺳﺮدﻳﺘﺎن ﺣﻮل ﺣﺮب 1948 وﻧﺘﺎﺋﺠﻬﺎ Adel Manna and Motti Golani DORDRECHT 2011 Cover Design / Illustration: studio Thorsten / Photograph: Gal Oron, at Kababir, mixed neighborhood in Haifa. Translations: Nawaf Athamnah This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data This book is printed on acid-free paper. This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. This publication has been co-sponsored by funding from the Ford Foundation, the Sigrid Rausing Trust and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The views in this book are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation ISSN 2211-3061 hardbound ISBN 9789089790828 paperback ISBN 9789089790835 © 2011 Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation.and Republic of Letters Publishing BV, Dordrecht, The Netherlands / St.Louis, MO. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Israel Post-Mission Report
    Committee of the Whole (2) Report DATE: Monday, March 09, 2020 WARD(S): ALL TITLE: 2019 ISRAEL POST-MISSION REPORT FROM: Mary Reali, Acting City Manager and Deputy City Manager, Community Services ACTION: FOR INFORMATION Purpose The City of Vaughan joined the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce’s Business Mission to Israel (November 2019) and supplemented the Mission with a government relations, business development and city promotion itinerary. This Report provides an overview of the key accomplishments of the City’s Mission and follow-up activities. Report Highlights The City of Vaughan completed a successful Business Mission to Israel organized by the President and CEO of the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce, in association with the Vaughan Economic and Cultural Development Department. The Vaughan delegation included 22 participants representing 15 organizations from relevant sectors of Vaughan’s local economy, such as business, academia, health care, government and research-innovation. The City accomplished the Mission’s key deliverables and is committed to advance its successes by continuing communication and exploratory projects with its stakeholders. Recommendations 1. That, the staff report, titled: “2019 Israel Post-Mission Report” be received for information; and Item 6 Page 1 of 6 2. That, Committee of the Whole supports staff in their continued follow-up activities and initiatives generated by the 2019 Israel Business Mission. Background Led by the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce (VCC), the City of Vaughan participated in a successful Business Mission to Israel from November 22 – November 30, 2019. The mandate of the City’s trip was to promote job-creating trade, learn best practices from leading Smart City and Healthcare practitioners, support the growth of local companies and globally-recognized institutions who took part in the effort, and strengthen relations with Jewish and Israeli communities.
    [Show full text]
  • Writings from the 2010 Sabbatical of the Rev. Timothy C. Ahrens Senior
    Writings from the 2010 Sabbatical of the Rev. Timothy C. Ahrens Senior Minister First Congregational Church, UCC Columbus, Ohio SPAIN Entry #1: Beginning the journey From the beautiful mountains and coastline of Andalusia in southern Spain, you could never guess that I have come to the place where holy wars were waged for 781 years - from 711-1492 AD. In 711 AD, less than 60 years after the death of Muhammad, 12,000 Moors came with their Islamic faith and their armies on ships from Morocco to Gibraltar. In seven short years these warriors, called the Al-Andalus had conquered the Iberian Peninsula - now known as Spain. So the Moors, Muslims, or Arabs (all are used) were truly the first true conquistadors in Spain. The Muslims ruled until January 2,1492, the year Ferdinand and Isabella finally claimed Grenada - the last stronghold. Later that year, the same King and Queen sent a man named Columbus to find riches in India. On October 12, 1492, he landed in what is now the Dominican Republic and found native Americans whom he called Indians. Columbus has a rather mixed history both here and in our homeland. I digress. Throughout the 781 year rule of the Muslim Moors, Christians remained the dominant faith by number. As they waged war and reclaimed one city after another, the reconquistadors would take a city and turn the mosques into churches as their first acts of domination. This re-conquest moved from the north to the south from the earliest years to the last stand in Grenada. For example, Toledo was the first great city to fall to Christians in 1086.
    [Show full text]