Palestine
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8: Place Names and Conflict: How Geography Shapes Territorial Disputes in Israel and Palestine
1. Introduction Place names in Israel and Palestine are not only markers of geography but also potent symbols within ongoing territorial and political conflicts. This article examines how toponymy is interwoven with disputes over land, identity, and sovereignty, illustrating the centrality of place names in narratives of conflict and peacebuilding.…
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11: Ottoman Administrative Divisions and Their Influence on Modern Israeli Geography
1. Introduction The Ottoman Empire governed the land of Israel from the early 16th century until the end of World War I. Its administrative divisions and governance systems have left an enduring impact on the region’s geography and place names. This article explores how Ottoman administrative structures shaped territorial organisation…
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12: Colonial and Mandate-Era Place Naming: British Policies and Practices in Palestine
1. Introduction The British Mandate period (1917–1948) in Palestine marked a significant chapter in the region’s history, particularly regarding place naming and cartographic practices. This article examines how British colonial policies influenced the recording, standardisation, and sometimes renaming of places, reflecting both administrative needs and political considerations. 2. Administrative and…
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37: The Political Use of Toponymy in Modern Israel and Palestine
1. Introduction Toponymy—the naming of places—has become a significant political tool in the modern Israeli-Palestinian context. This article explores how place names are employed to assert sovereignty, identity, and historical claims, often becoming focal points in the broader territorial and cultural conflict. 2. Renaming as Political Assertion Renaming towns, neighbourhoods,…
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Palestine in Biblical Context
1. Introduction The land historically known as Palestine holds central significance in the biblical narrative. Often referred to in Scripture as Canaan, the Promised Land, or the land of Israel, it was the geographical setting for the majority of the events recorded in both the Old and New Testaments. While…
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PART X: Zionism and Return to the Land (1800s–1948)
Modern Zionism and Political Mobilisation Introduction: Emergence of Nationalist AspirationsIn the context of 19th-century European nationalism, colonial realignment, and rising antisemitism, a new Jewish political and ideological movement—Zionism—emerged, calling for the return of the Jewish people to their ancestral homeland in Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel). While rooted in…
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British Mandate and Conflicts
Introduction: Imperial Oversight and National AspirationsFollowing the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain administrative control over Palestine through the Mandate for Palestine (1920–1948). The British Mandate era became a crucible for Zionist ambitions and Arab nationalist resistance, as conflicting promises and…
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The Israel–Palestine Conflict
The Israel–Palestine Conflict: Historical Roots, Contemporary Challenges, and Prospects for Peace Introduction The Israel–Palestine conflict stands as one of the most enduring and emotionally charged disputes in modern history. It is a complex struggle defined by competing territorial claims, national identities, religious significance, and strategic interests. Despite numerous international interventions,…
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PART XI: Modern State of Israel (1948–Present)
Declaration of Independence (1948) Historical Background and the UN Partition PlanIn the wake of the Holocaust and the breakdown of the British Mandate, international pressure mounted to resolve the question of Jewish statehood in Palestine. On 29 November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 181, recommending the partition…