Reimagining Jewish-Muslim Relations After October 7th

Dear Colleagues,

The events of October 7th, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza have profoundly impacted Muslim–Jewish relations, creating a critical juncture that demands new theological, intellectual, and political frameworks. While immediate geopolitical analysis is vital, there is an urgent need to explore deeper, faith-based pathways toward a sustainable and peaceful future. The rise in both antisemitism and Islamophobia globally in the wake of the conflict underscores the necessity of this dialogue. This Special Issue seeks to move beyond the cycle of violence and recrimination to foster a scholarly conversation centered on reconciliation, mutual recognition, and shared futures.

This Special Issue aims to address the significant Islamic theological challenges and opportunities presented by the current landscape. We invite contributions that grapple with the theological acceptance of Israel, the role and future of groundbreaking initiatives like the Abraham Accords, and the unequivocal rejection of terrorism and extremism as practiced by groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. We seek to explore how engagement with Israel can spur creative innovation within the Islamic world and how Israel can, in turn, better engage with Islamic ideas to foster regional integration.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Theological Frameworks for Peace: Exploring interpretations of Islamic scripture and tradition that support the recognition of and engagement with the state of Israel.

• The Abraham Accords and Beyond: Analyzing the theological implications and potential expansion of normalization agreements between Israel and Muslim-majority nations.

• Countering Extremism: Islamic jurisprudential and theological refutations of the ideologies of Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

• Pathways to Peace After Gaza: Proposing concrete, theologically informed models for reconciliation, justice, and security for both Israelis and Palestinians in the aftermath of the Gaza War.

• Utopian Futures and Creative Coexistence: Envisioning innovative and aspirational futures for Muslim–Jewish engagement, including intellectual, cultural, and economic collaboration that fosters mutual respect and shared prosperity.

• Regional Integration: How can theological dialogue and interfaith engagement pave the way for Israel's incorporation into a peaceful and prosperous greater Middle East?

We hope that this Special Issue will stimulate new research that challenges existing paradigms and offers constructive, forward-looking perspectives. The goal is to create a significant academic resource for scholars, theologians, policymakers, and interfaith practitioners working to build a more peaceful and cooperative future for the Middle East and beyond.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editors Iqbal Akhtar (iakhtar@fiu.edu) and Mehnaz Afridi (mehnaz.afridi@manhattan.edu). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors to ensure proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo a double-blind peer-review process.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Iqbal Akhtar
Dr. Elad Ben David
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.