The Arab conquest of the Land came four years
after the death of Muhammad (632) and lasted more than four centuries, with caliphs ruling first
from Damascus, then from Baghdad and Egypt. At the outset of Islamic
rule, Jewish settlement in Jerusalem was resumed, and the Jewish community was granted permission to live
under "protection," the customary status of non-Muslims
under Islamic rule, which safeguarded their lives, property and
freedom of worship in return for payment of special poll and land
taxes.
However, the subsequent introduction of restrictions
against non-Muslims (717) affected the Jews' public conduct as
well as their religious observances and legal status. The imposition
of heavy taxes on agricultural land compelled many to move from rural
areas to towns, where their circumstances hardly improved, while
increasing social and economic discrimination forced many Jews to
leave the country. By the end of the 11th century, the Jewish
community in the Land had diminished considerably and had lost some
of its organizational and religious cohesiveness.
Sources: Israeli
Foreign Ministry