Very good article/podcast by Eli Lake. But, there is no "third holiest site" in Islam. That idea itself is a Palestinian (now Iranian) talking point (lie). Yes, the Arabs want to try to deny the link (the reality) of the connection between Jews now and all of ancient Israel and the middle east for the past time.
I wrote a substack on Iran's obsession with the "al-Asqua" lie and with Jerusalem. I should say not merely Iran's obsession, since it has only been going on since 1979, but the Islamic Republic's obsession and the IIRGC's terrorism. A link to my substack is here.
I would love if TFP could recommend a reading list of essential histories (say half a dozen books or equivalent) that go into more detail on all of this. It's fascinating; it isn't taught in US schools; it seems as important as anything else we study about the 20th century.
I had a fantastic middle eastern history course in college in the late 1980s, but this really put the puzzle pieces back together for me. I think I need to stand in front of a whiteboard and chart this out. Would love to see it if someone has already done so…..I really enjoy and appreciate Eli Lake’s reporting. Very well done.
Very good article/podcast by Eli Lake. But, there is no "third holiest site" in Islam. That idea itself is a Palestinian (now Iranian) talking point (lie). Yes, the Arabs want to try to deny the link (the reality) of the connection between Jews now and all of ancient Israel and the middle east for the past time.
I wrote a substack on Iran's obsession with the "al-Asqua" lie and with Jerusalem. I should say not merely Iran's obsession, since it has only been going on since 1979, but the Islamic Republic's obsession and the IIRGC's terrorism. A link to my substack is here.
https://gendegen.substack.com/p/what-is-behind-irans-obsession-with
I would love if TFP could recommend a reading list of essential histories (say half a dozen books or equivalent) that go into more detail on all of this. It's fascinating; it isn't taught in US schools; it seems as important as anything else we study about the 20th century.
I am not Eli or TFP but books written by two of the authors heard on the episode are:
Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict by Oren Kessler and Jerusalem: The Biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore
I had a fantastic middle eastern history course in college in the late 1980s, but this really put the puzzle pieces back together for me. I think I need to stand in front of a whiteboard and chart this out. Would love to see it if someone has already done so…..I really enjoy and appreciate Eli Lake’s reporting. Very well done.