This book examines the relationship between jihad and genocide, past and present. Richard L. Rubenstein takes a close look at the violent interpretations of jihad and how they have played out in the past hundred years, from the Armenian genocide through current threats to Israel. Rubenstein's unflinching study of the potential for fundamentalist jihad to initiate targeted violence raises pressing questions in a time when questions of religious co-existence, particularly in the Middle East, are discussed urgently each day.

"Rubenstein's discussion of the ideological rationale of the Islamists underlines the irreconcilable gap between Western and Muslim political concepts. Rubenstein methodically explores the sources, the ideological connections, and the common policies of Nazi, Fascist and Muslim leaders. Written in a clear style, Rubenstein's book evokes in simple language, the most crucial issues of our time." - Newenglishreview.Org, January, 2010

"Rubenstein's analysis stands the test of time. Thus, attention must be paid to Rubenstein’s new work, Jihad and Genocide, which offers a searing analysis of Islamic thought and bleak predictions of its impact. Even those of us who do not share his pessimism, his sense of the inevitability of the path to genocide and war, or his predilection for the political right, must confront the issues he raises." - Foreword Reviews, February 17, 2010

"Attention must be paid to Rubenstein's new work, Jihad and Genocide, which offers a searing analysis of Islamic thought and bleak predictions of its impact. . . . Now 86, Rubenstein has written yet another powerful and disturbing book." - Purim Newspaper - Arts and Cultures Section, February 2010

"Jihad and Genocide offers a timely and important contribution to the study of Islamism, one of the most dangerous phenomena of our times. . . . One book will not change the world, but books like this give one hope." - Middle East Quarterly, Spring 2010

"Rubenstein (religion, Univ. of Bridgeport), a distinguished scholar of Holocaust and genocide studies, describes how 9/11 caused a shift in his research focus to radical Islam and its genocidal threat. He traces jihadism in the writings of some prominent advocates and practitioners—Sayyad Qutb, Sayyid Abul Al'la al-Mawdudi, Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and bin Laden. Rubenstein presents a case study of the Armenian massacres in Ottoman Turkey (1894-96), which culminated in genocide (1915-23), as an early example of genocidal jihadism. He details the pro-Nazi activities of Hajj Amin al-Husseini against Balkan Jews and plans to liquidate Palestinian Jewry. Recent jihadist threats are seen emanating from the growing Muslim population in Europe, the rise of anti-Semitism, and the possibility of an Iranian-Shiite apocalyptic nuclear confrontation with Israel. While some readers will take issue with aspects of Rubenstein's analysis, his conclusions should be taken seriously: the rage among Islamists against Israel and the US is driven by the shame brought on by successive Muslim defeats since the 1500s; this rage will continue until the shame is erased by genocide, if Islamist threats are taken seriously. Provocative, important reading for all interested in Arab-Israeli peace and religious coexistence worldwide. Highly recommended." - CHOICE