Inside the Belly of the Whale

Islamism in the Jewish State

Suheir Abu Oksa Daoud

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Year: 2026
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781978769540
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Middle Eastern History

Inside the Belly of the Whale: Islamism in the Jewish State explores the rise of Islamism in Israel and the challenges faced by the Islamist movement as it navigates the intersection of Islam as a universal faith with the principles of democracy, nationalism, and Zionism. It examines how the movement leverages religion to shape the cultural, political, economic, and social realities of the Palestinian Arab minority and the broader Israeli landscape. Additionally, it raises compelling questions about whether the movement remains aligned with the principles of political Islam or has it evolved into a democratic Islamic party functioning within a Jewish state with limited democratic practices. The discussion situates the rise of Islamism within the historical context that saw Palestinians-once the majority and indigenous inhabitants of Palestine-reduced to a minority under the governance of the Jewish state since 1948.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Dedication
• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• List of Acronyms
• Map
• Introduction
• 1 The Genie Came Out of the Bottle: The Palestinians in Israel
• 2 From the Awakening to the Split
• 3 Inside the Belly of the Whale and the Outlaw of the IMNF
• 4 Gender Dynamics in the Islamic Movement
• 5 Political Leadership and Strategic Shifts in the United Arab List: 1996–2022
• Conclusion
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Author
• Copyright Page