Mythical Biblical Prophecies and Their Impact on the Arab-Israeli Conflict: The Al-Aqsa Flood as a Case Study

Abstract

The study attempts to uncover the impact of biblical mythical prophecies and their reflection on the Arab-Israeli conflict in general, and especially the current war in Gaza, by posing the following problem: What role do the mythical biblical prophecies play in the Arab-Israeli conflict? By observing one of the most significant manifestations of the conflict today, the Battle of Al-Aqsa Storm, and to answer the problem, the researcher employs the descriptive-analytical method and the case study method. The study is important in highlighting a neglected dimension of the Arab-Israeli conflict, which helps in understanding the most critical complexities of this conflict, represented by the unlimited U.S. support for Israel; the study also presents an alternative approach given the lack of research that focused on the role of myth, enhancing the ability to find more effective mechanisms to end this conflict. The study is divided into three sections: the first is conceptual and foundational, the second is theoretical dealing with the establishment of the biblical myth, and the last is practical, serving as a translation of the theoretical aspect. The study concluded that the biblical myth had an active role in shaping Zionist thought, establishing the state of Israel, formulating its policies, and justifying its acts of aggression. The vast majority of Protestant followers in the United States supported the Zionist project under the pretext that it fulfilled biblical prophecies and enacted God’s will; thus, establishing, supporting, and preserving Israel has become a Christian religious duty. Moreover, it is no longer possible to ignore the role of the mythical religious dimension in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict, and it is necessary to strip the alleged religious legitimacy from Zionist actions, revealing and exposing the falsehood and lies carried out in the name of divine religion by Zionist circles.