1. Palestine gets its name from Philistia; The Land of Philistines
Philistia was a word dubbed by Greek writers, who used it in the 12th Century BCE to denote the small piece of land situated between present-day Tel-Aviv-Yafo and Gaza. The name was re-established by the Romans in the 2nd Century BCE.
2. Its history is etched by control, wars, and transfer of power between a myriad of kingdom and powers
These include Alexander the Great, Ancient Egypt, Persia, the Roman Empire, several Muslim dynasties, and the Crusaders.
In modern times, the area was ruled by the Ottoman Empire, then the United Kingdom. Thus, it has seen growth and change in multiple aspects of culture and politics, over time.
3. Some of the earliest origins of human civilization were found here
In the Jordan Rift Valley, human remains dated to almost 1.5 million years ago were discovered. This established the movement of the earliest species of ‘Homo Erectus”, out of Africa. Hand axes were also procured from the site.
4. The Persian Rule proved to an extremely modern and progressive time
Persians wanted to progress economically and politically in this region. They established numerous well-built cities along the coast, promoted resettlement of exiles and rebuilt centres of religious importance. Despite dispute between the Greeks and Persians, heavy Greek influence the also noticeable in the form of coins, artwork, pottery etc.
5. Palestinian Jews were experts in glassmaking, famously known as ‘Jewish Glass’
Palestine flourished in terms of skills, craft, and fertility. Rich products such as marble, olive oil, and sugar, silk were exported and imported vastly. It was also known for its book production and scribal work. Agricultural produce and crafts were quite prominent. This gave Palestine unique importance.
6. The Dome Of Rock isn’t originally a mosque
Even though it is believed to be built on a site where Mohammad had supposedly begun his journey to heaven, its origin and significance is still debatable. One theory that holds is that it was built to rival Christianity monuments, and thus was built on such a large scale with unmatched magnificence.
7. The Israeli West bank is a major object of controversy
Built in 2002 by the Israeli government, the West Wall was seen as a necessity to prevent further unrest and terrorism discrimination and a violation of their rights to freedom. More than security, this barrier aggravates political unrest.
8. The period of British Rule-“British Mandate”, majorly promoted religious dissent
Britishers created separate institutions for Muslims, Jews, and Christians, and allowed a rapid influx of Jews from Europe. These people did not gel well with other communities and cultures, further creating a divide. This disorder resulted in a failed revolt against the British in 1936.
9. Palestine was once the epitome of multiculturalism
It was during the Ottoman period, that Muslims, Christians and Jews lived as one and identified themselves as a unified Palestinian identity. Various accounts of Muslim and Jew neighbours praying together, sending their kids to Christian schools, and even marriages between Arabs and Jews are recalled.
10. The partition suggested by UN General Assembly in 1947 did more harm than good
The resolution suggested by the UN turned into a catastrophic civil war. More than 7, 00,000 Palestinians were displaced or fled their homes, to escape the turmoil and chaos. Israel saw it as a victory, while Palestine saw its end. It is to date commemorated by Palestinian territories on 15th May, known as “Nakba Day”(Day of Catastrophe)
11. The nearest instance of dissolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the 2000 Clinton Talk
Bill Clinton, the President of the United States at that time, called leaders of both the states to Maryland to come to an agreement. He laid down some guidelines and rules, and it all seemed to work out. But a dispute of such magnitude and history could not have been resolved this easily, and unsurprisingly, a definite conclusion was never reached.