The danger of a religious war is upon us
Dr. Michael Milstein warns that Israeli policy in the Palestinian context, particularly in the West Bank and on the Temple Mount, is leading to the transformation of the conflict from a national struggle into a religious war. He describes a process of "religionization" in security policy, which includes sanctifying the hold on territory, changing the status quo on the Temple Mount, and adopting ideas from religious Zionism, while pushing aside a political solution and deepening internal divisions.
Dr. Michael Milstein, a senior researcher at the Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, warns in an opinion piece on ynet that Israeli policy in the Palestinian context is leading to the danger of a religious war. According to him, Israel hoped the struggle would be national and territorial, but since October 7th, religious content has become dominant in its policy. Milstein describes a process of "religionization" expressed in sanctifying the hold on territory by divine command, relating to Palestinians as "gentiles," and changing the status quo on the Temple Mount, accompanied by an increase in ceremonies and declarations of a future intention to "evacuate" the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He notes that statements by Smotrich about wiping out Huwara, the Joshua bin Nun doctrine, budgeting for the construction of the Holy Temple, and threats against Saudi Arabia and Europe are part of the trend. Milstein warns that strengthening the religious pole will harm relations with countries in the region and the world, lead to a negative change in economic and political relations, and deepen internal divisions in Israel over the question of what is being fought for and lives are being sacrificed for.