'Children of Abraham': Over a millennium of Jewish-Muslim relations - review

A review of Marc David Baer's 'Children of Abraham: The 1,400-Year History of Jewish-Muslim Relations'. Baer, a professor at the London School of Economics, argues against two myths: interfaith utopia or perpetual enmity. The review criticizes his account of the Gaza war, noting he omits Hamas's tunnel network and criticism of casualty figures. Baer cites 1,200 Israelis killed on October 7, 2023, and 67,000 Palestinians killed after two years.

Neville Teller reviews Marc David Baer's 'Children of Abraham: The 1,400-Year History of Jewish-Muslim Relations' (Basic Books, 496 pages, $27). Baer, a professor at the London School of Economics, argues against two myths: that Jewish-Muslim relations were an interfaith utopia or perpetual enmity. The book covers 1,415 years from circa 610 CE to the present, focusing on the Middle East and Europe. Teller praises Baer's research but criticizes his account of the Gaza war. Baer describes Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack as a 'barbarous pogrom' that killed over 1,200 Israelis and took over 250 hostages. He claims Israel's bombing killed an estimated 10,000 Palestinians in the first month, and at least 67,000 after two years, with four-fifths civilians. Teller notes Baer omits Hamas's tunnel network, the embedding of fighters in civilian buildings, and criticism of Hamas casualty statistics. Teller concludes that Baer's account, despite aiming for even-handedness, gives substance to genocide accusations against Israel.