The idea that the Palestinian people have only been able to persist because of their religion is ridiculous to me. They are resisting because colonialism, apartheid and genocide are very bad things to which nobody would want to be subjected, not because of Islam. If Palestinians were atheists, is he suggesting that they wouldn't have the strength or the will to resist? Would their lack of a belief in the supernatural turn them into doormats for Isn'treal?
I like Hakim's content, but his position on religion is quite frustrating. He is a Muslim first and a Marxist second. Also, Joram van Klaveren is still a right-winger.
Anti-colonial struggle is universal. It has taken place all over the world and by no means limited to Islam or the Palestinians.
Islam does play a role in the formation of the political movement in Palestine. However, the idea that religion drives anti-colonial movement and infuses them with some “special” property is nonsense.
National liberation movement has always taken on a form that is deeply influenced by its local culture and shared values among its people. This is not unique to the struggle of the Palestinian people.