Apostate prophet explores history further; Jewish background in Arabia?

In answer to the video "The Fate of the Jews of Medina (TGP 1)"

This requires a little step back to understand the geopolitical situation before and during the time of the prophet.

Sometime after the battle of Uhud and as the game of alliances and conspiracies was at its peak against the Muslims. At this point, Muslims felt they had to develop a system of control, as they felt they werent in security in their own town of Medina. This prevented their engagement in agriculture or commerce which was somehow balanced through the spoils acquired until now through the preceding battles.

Fearing enemy attacks at any moment, the Prophet organized a channel of communication throughout the Arabian Peninsula which was at the time composed of a complex net of autonomous little republics. This network of clans depended for its security on an intricate system of intertribal customs, pacts, and traditions. Muslims had to be vigilant against these various coalitions, each looking to avenge the defeats some of their allies had suffered. They in addition deeply resented the threat to their tribal laws and order which Islam was causing, as it promoted brotherhood in faith regardless of any worldly affinities such as tribal, ethnic, social, familial etc.

The animosity against Muhammad was such that the Jews turned against their own religion, disregarding their Ishmaelite brethren's pure call to monotheism and preferred allying with the paganism which Moses and other biblical prophets fought. Their prophets in addition warned them not to ever ally and coexist with pagans ever. They were again going through the same spiritual failures, as their forefathers did when they were influenced by the pagan people's religions

5:80"You will see many of them befriending those who disbelieve; certainly evil is that which their souls have sent before for them, that Allah became displeased with them and in chastisement shall they abide".

The Quran relates how they openly favoured polytheism to Islamic monotheism in order to appease the Meccans. This is unsurprising to anyone familiar with their history as described on their own books, treacherously allying with one another's pagan enemies for the fleeting benefits of this world. The traditions give the reason for that political move, the Meccans were hesitant to form an alliance with the Jews on account of their obvious spiritual closeness to Islam. The traditions speak of a delegation of Medinite Jews sent to Mecca after the battle of Uhud and publicly bowed to the Meccan idols in order to comfort them in their position against the Muslims and appease their reluctance 

2:109,4:51"Have you not seen those to whom a portion of the Book has been given? They believe in idols and false deities and say of those who disbelieve: These are better guided in the path than those who believe".

This attitude of the Jews toward Quraysh and their favoring of the latter's paganism over the monotheism of Muhammad was in sharp contrast with the attitude of the Christian Negus of Abyssinia who sheltered and protected the early days persecuted Muslims of Mecca

5:82"Certainly you will find the most violent of people in enmity for those who believe (to be) the Jews and those who are polytheists, and you will certainly find the nearest in friendship to those who believe (to be) those who say: We are Christians; this is because there are priests and monks among them and because they do not behave proudly".

Christians in addition, contrary to the Jews, do not hold the arrogant belief of a special relation with God; their "priests and monks" teach them humility. Christians also reject the Jewish notion of unconditional, everlasting chosenness as the leading spiritual nation to mankind, drawing them closer to the Muslim understanding of religion from that aspect.