I have read in the history books that the inciting incident that led to the rift between Muslims and Jews in the days of the Prophet was a perceived disagreement about the Jews protecting Medina from the Meccans. Is this correct?
The cause of the rift was the betrayal of Jewish leaders of that time and mischief they played against the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and the Muslims. They wanted to join the enemies of Islam instead of protecting Madina. They had secret ties with the enemies of Islam and Muslims to destroy the Muslim state in Madina.
Wassalam.