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Cet article traite de l'habitat et de la cartographie de la population arabe nomade et rurale de Palestine au XIXe siecle. L'auteur presente deux cartes (1860 et 1863) recemment decouvertes, du domaine agricole du village arabe... more
Cet article traite de l'habitat et de la cartographie de la population arabe nomade et rurale de Palestine au XIXe siecle. L'auteur presente deux cartes (1860 et 1863) recemment decouvertes, du domaine agricole du village arabe musulman d'Artâs, au sud de Bethlehem. Elles constituent les plus anciennes cartes pre-cadastrales connues de terres privees de la periode moderne d'un village palestinien. Elles ont ete dressees dans le cadre de l'installation de communautes agricoles europeennes au debut de la periode moderne. Associees a d'autres documents contemporains, elles permettent de realiser une synthese cartographique, geographique et historique des aspects de la continuite et de l'evolution de l'habitat, de la propriete privee, des systemes de culture et d'alimentation en eau et des relations entre les fellahin (paysans arabes) locaux, les bedouins, les habitants europeens et les propretaires absenteistes dans une region frontaliere
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Dissent between the clerical establishment and lay followers is not an infrequent phenomenon and has often focused on church appointments, leadership, and political issues. In the Middle East, such tensions are found between churches... more
Dissent between the clerical establishment and lay followers is not an infrequent phenomenon and has often focused on church appointments, leadership, and political issues. In the Middle East, such tensions are found between churches usually led by European clergy and their predominantly Arab congregations. Here we combine historical and geographical research methods to investigate a neglected source of contention—that of property held by the church. We reconstruct, analyze, and present detailed case studies of long-term disputes over real estate between the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem (its Greek patriarch and clergy), and its lay Arab community, known as Rum Orthodox, Roman Christians,1 or Greek Orthodox, and which number about 71,000 members. The paper examines the economic, ethnic, and national identity factors that led to bitter internal conflict between the community and clergy of the Greek Orthodox church of Jerusalem, the oldest established church in the city. We demonstrate that the conflict is increasingly fueled by powerful economic incentives, as well as by political-national, social, and communal interests. Understanding of the real-estate aspect in the dispute between the Patriarchate and its congregation provides insight into the operation of the Patriarchate, including real-estate ownership and accumulation by the church, its tenurial status, and the spatial distribution of the property. Although this is not the only case in the Middle East and Palestine/Israel in which the heads of the church were, and sometimes remain, of a different ethnic origin and nationality from the local Arab congregation, most of the Christian churches in the Holy Land (such as the Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches) have undergone a process of Arabization in recent years, with local Arab clergy replacing foreign priests. The Orthodox Patriarchate alone continues to be closely controlled by foreigners—in this case, by ethnic Greeks. No local Arab priests serve in key roles in the church. 2 The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate owns and administers vast land holdings, currently representing one of the largest nongovernmental pools of real estate in the State of Israel (Figure 1). We show that church land has served as a vehicle by which the Patriarchate
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... Yaakov Barnai, Dr. Yaron Ben-Naeh, Prof. Leah Bornstein-Makovetzky, Yaron Lapid, and advocates Shmuel and Zvi Shamir. Expressions of appreciation are found in the notes to those who provided us with additional information and material... more
... Yaakov Barnai, Dr. Yaron Ben-Naeh, Prof. Leah Bornstein-Makovetzky, Yaron Lapid, and advocates Shmuel and Zvi Shamir. Expressions of appreciation are found in the notes to those who provided us with additional information and material for this study. ...
Research Interests: Jewish Studies and Art
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Here is the fascinating story of one of Jerusalem's founding families. The Valeros established the first private bank in Israel. They owned considerable real estate in Jerusalem and its environs, as well as properties throughout the... more
Here is the fascinating story of one of Jerusalem's founding families. The Valeros established the first private bank in Israel. They owned considerable real estate in Jerusalem and its environs, as well as properties throughout the country, many of which they donated for the public's needs. Members of the elite Jerusalem Sephardic community, which peaked in the beginning of the twentieth century, the Valeros were extremely active in public life. The book also serves as a cultural study of the life of a family from the higher echelons of Jerusalem in the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries.
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This chapter considers multiculturalism in Israeli society, and its expression in museums. It showcases one regional/ethnographic museum that attempted to present two different cultures in the Negev of Southern Israel. We first relate to... more
This chapter considers multiculturalism in Israeli society, and its expression in museums. It showcases one regional/ethnographic museum that attempted to present two different cultures in the Negev of Southern Israel. We first relate to museums of nomads and Bedouin in the Middle East. We then discuss the topic of multiculturalism and ethnographic museums in Israel and whether Israel represents a multicultural society. Given the many museums in Israel and the proliferation of ethnographic museums in the last three decades, we suggest that these museums tend to present Israeli culture as ethnocentric rather than multicultural, reflecting ethnic re-awakening rather than the ‘melting pot’ envisaged by the founders of the State. We then relate to the Bedouin museums in Israel. Our detailed case study is of a museum of the Bedouin, part of the Joe Alon Center for Regional Studies, the primary aim of which was to reflect multiethnic and multicultural societies within the Negev. This task...
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Though forming having taken an active part in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns of the World War I, the Bedouin tribes are rarely mentioned. This is due in part to the scarcity of documentation, especially having none from the Bedouins... more
Though forming having taken an active part in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns of the World War I, the Bedouin tribes are rarely mentioned. This is due in part to the scarcity of documentation, especially having none from the Bedouins themselves. This article seeks to fill in some of the gaps in the research on the war in the Sinai Peninsula and southern Palestine, and to examine the contribution of the Bedouin tribes in that area to the Ottoman military campaign. It argues that the Ottoman perception of the Bedouins as a fighting force changed during the war from being seen as force multiplier to being employed only in scout and reconnaissance roles.
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In 2007 the United Nation (UN) adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP). Even though this declaration is not legally binding, it drew international attention to the situation of indigenous populations as marginal... more
In 2007 the United Nation (UN) adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP). Even though this declaration is not legally binding, it drew international attention to the situation of indigenous populations as marginal groups that deserve special attention in the current process of globalization. The DRIP strengthened demands for indigenous rights . In Israel , the indigenous discourse began in the last 2 decades, focusing mainly on the Bedouin’s demand for private land ownership by way of recognition as the indigenous population of the Negev, in southern Israel. This article seeks to explore the development of the indigenous concept at the international level and applies the analysis to the case of the Negev Bedouin . The first part presents the roots of the indigenous concept and the development of the indigenous rights regime under international law. Since the DRIP does not include a formal workable definition it is necessary to explore legal definitions and to present a set of widely accepted characteristics. The second part deals with the regional and local levels: the Middle East (ME) and Israel. We present a brief history of the region, the various regimes, and the Islamic and Ottoman legal heritage. We distinguish between the ME’s history and the terra nullius or “discovered” territories where the indigenous concept was first applied. Then we relate specifically to the Bedouin of the Negev, their Arabian Peninsula origin, and the late date of arrival in the Negev of their forbearers. We also explore their current situation. The third part examines the question of whether the Negev Bedouin claim for recognition as an “indigenous people ” is consistent with the main features and parameters that were explored in the first part. Following the analysis, we argue that implementing the indigenous concept in Israel is inappropriate and that the Negev Bedouin claims are not compatible with prevailing notions of indigeneity .
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In the sixty years between 1948 and 2008, Israel’s relationship with the movement of Messianic Jews developed in light of changes in Israeli society. Although wide circles of Israeli Jews consider Messianic Jews to be converts to... more
In the sixty years between 1948 and 2008, Israel’s relationship with the movement of Messianic Jews developed in light of changes in Israeli society. Although wide circles of Israeli Jews consider Messianic Jews to be converts to Christianity, Messianic Jews describe themselves simply as “Jewish believers in Jesus (Yeshua).” Israeli religious discourse often identified them with Christian missionaries, and in some cases, missionary organizations were indeed transformed into congregations of Messianic Jews, at times operating directly through their organizations and at other times indirectly. Israeli authorities worked to prevent the spread of the movement and its activities in the country. The “Jewish believers in Jesus” in Israel faced various forms of defamation and harassment, administrative obstacles, and legal restrictions including a denial of the right to apply for Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return, a right guaranteed to all Jews.
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This paper examines how Plato von Ustinow (1833-1920/21), a Russian aristocrat and German baron, became one of the nineteenth century’s most prolific collectors of antiquities from Israel, Palestine and the surrounding areas. It... more
This paper examines how Plato von Ustinow (1833-1920/21), a Russian aristocrat and German baron, became one of the nineteenth century’s most prolific collectors of antiquities from Israel, Palestine and the surrounding areas. It investigates how Ustinow collected archaeological artefacts and displayed them in an ʽexhibition hallʼ located at his home Hotel du Parc, in Jaffa (Tel Aviv), from 1878 to 1913. Until recently, Ustinow’s private museum has been interpreted in the light of cultural revitalisation, as well as a sentimental attempt to inspire research and provide educational resources. However, post-colonial studies demonstrate that during the nineteenth- and early twentieth centuries, scholars from Europe and the USA sought ʽproofʼ of past civilisations. Today, collections that were constructed from this kind of cultural material are considered problematic. Many heritage sites and items of global importance were destroyed, disturbed, pillaged, traded and included in public and...
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ABSTRACT Using primary archival and other contemporary sources, this article explores the relationship between the Christian mission and Israel as a modern Jewish nation-state from its establishment in 1948 until 1965, when section 13a of... more
ABSTRACT Using primary archival and other contemporary sources, this article explores the relationship between the Christian mission and Israel as a modern Jewish nation-state from its establishment in 1948 until 1965, when section 13a of the Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law, 5722–1962, was enacted in the Israeli Parliament (Knesset). Since the rebirth of the State of Israel, a number of Christian Protestant Churches and missionary organisations have worked to convert Jews to Christianity. The State of Israel opposed such proselytising yet wished to maintain its commitment to freedom of religion as stated in its Declaration of Independence. Furthermore, it did not wish to damage foreign relations with the Christian world.
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Abstract This article presents a private collection of photographs of Bedouins living in the Negev desert in Southern Israel in the 1950s–1960s: the personal collection of the Dutch-born Benjamin Yehudah Ben Assa (1917–1976), a medical... more
Abstract This article presents a private collection of photographs of Bedouins living in the Negev desert in Southern Israel in the 1950s–1960s: the personal collection of the Dutch-born Benjamin Yehudah Ben Assa (1917–1976), a medical doctor known to the Bedouins as Abu Assa. The study explores the forms of presentation of women in his photographs, mostly while being treated in his clinic during his medical practice. The analysis of the photographs relates to lifestyle and traditions of Bedouin women and the way in which these affected his construction of images. The exploration relates to the forms of visibility of Bedouin women in the public sphere, expanding on traditional practices of photographing Bedouin women in the Middle East in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Research Interests: Gender Studies, Archival Studies, Visual Anthropology, Feminist Theory, Photography, and 15 moreHistory of Medicine, Israel Studies, Health Care, Archives, Photography Theory, Visual Analysis, Photographic Archives, Bedouins, Art Theory and Criticism, Visibility, Negev Bedouin, Doctor patient relationship, Israel Palestine, Bedouin Women, and Photogrpahy
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ABSTRACT The census of nomadic populations poses a challenge for governing authorities. In 1945, the British Mandatory government of Palestine developed a novel method to enumerate the nomadic Bedouin population of the Negev. By using... more
ABSTRACT The census of nomadic populations poses a challenge for governing authorities. In 1945, the British Mandatory government of Palestine developed a novel method to enumerate the nomadic Bedouin population of the Negev. By using aerial reconnaissance photography to augment conventional methods, they counted the tents of the tribesmen and marked them on a small scale map. This represented the culmination of years of British efforts to estimate the nomadic population of Palestine's largest administrative area, the Beersheba subdistrict of the Negev Desert, between 1917 and 1948. The aims of this paper were to chronicle, examine, and evaluate the British Mandatory estimates and censuses of the Bedouin population of the Negev undertaken in 1922, 1931, and 1946, and to compare them with their aerial survey of Bedouin tents in 1945. This study brings together a body of primary source material to examine a topic that has not been adequately addressed by researchers, and briefly touches on British strategic interests to invest in this activity. We assess the importance and accuracy of this mapping as well as its implications for the study of the Bedouin population of the Negev.
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Research Interests: History, Archaeology, Ottoman History, Middle East Studies, Pilgrimage, and 11 moreColonialism, Exploration History, Protestantism, Middle Eastern Studies, Church History, Historical Jesus, Pilgrimage and travel to the Holy Land, Holy Land Studies, Historical Studies, History of Sacred Spaces and Holy Sites, and Israel Palestine
The Bedouin of the Middle East have been one of the region's most marginalized groups in modern times. This study assesses the interplay between state policies and the Bedouin in the last 150 years, from a comparative standpoint. We... more
The Bedouin of the Middle East have been one of the region's most marginalized groups in modern times. This study assesses the interplay between state policies and the Bedouin in the last 150 years, from a comparative standpoint. We examine the development of land ...
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Research Interests: Indigenous Studies, Middle East Studies, Israel Studies, Nationalism, Indigenous Knowledge, and 15 moreIndigenous Peoples Rights, Indigenous Peoples, Multidisciplinary, Israel, Academic Publishing, Imagined Community, Middle East, Indiana University, Imagined Communities, Palestinians in Israel, Bedouin, Negev, Indigenous Communities, Negev Bedouin, and Indigenous People
During the late Ottoman and British Mandatory periods the cultural and environmental landscape of Palestine changed dramatically. This was reflected in both urban development and rural settlement patterns. In the last decades of Ottoman... more
During the late Ottoman and British Mandatory periods the cultural and environmental landscape of Palestine changed dramatically. This was reflected in both urban development and rural settlement patterns. In the last decades of Ottoman rule much of the newly settled rural low country of Palestine, including the coastal plain and Jordan valley, was strongly influenced by Bedouin tribes, who were living in various states of mobile pastoralism. By the end of the British Mandate the majority of the Bedouin, with the exception of those living in the Negev in Southern Palestine, had become sedentary in one form or another. The Bedouin actively built about 60 new villages and dispersed settlements, comprising several thousand houses. The Mandate authorities estimated the population of these Bedouin villages to be 27,500 in 1945. Our paper examines who the inhabitants of these Bedouin villages were, tracing them from their nomadic and pastoral origins in the late Ottoman period to their fi...
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This paper examines how Plato von Ustinow (1833-1920/21) , a Russian aristocrat and German baron, became one of the nineteenth century's most prolific collectors of antiquities from Israel, Palestine and the surrounding areas. It... more
This paper examines how Plato von Ustinow (1833-1920/21) , a Russian aristocrat and German baron, became one of the nineteenth century's most prolific collectors of antiquities from Israel, Palestine and the surrounding areas. It investigates how Ustinow collected archaeological artefacts and displayed them in an ʽexhibition hallʼ located at his home Hôtel du Parc, in Jaffa (Tel Aviv), from 1878 to 1913. Until recently, Ustinow's private museum has been interpreted in the light of cultural revitalisation, as well as a sentimental attempt to inspire research and provide educational resources. However, postcolonial studies demonstrate that during the nineteenth-and early twentieth centuries, scholars from Europe and the USA sought ʽproofʼ of past civilisations. Today, collections that were constructed from this kind of cultural material are considered problematic. Many heritage sites and items of global importance were destroyed, disturbed, pillaged, traded and included in p...
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... 35; Gideon Biger, An Empire in the Holy Land: Historical Geography of the British Administration in Palestine, 1917–1929 (Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1994); Yaacov Reuvani, Mandatory Government 1929–1948 (Ramat Gan: Bar Ilan University... more
... 35; Gideon Biger, An Empire in the Holy Land: Historical Geography of the British Administration in Palestine, 1917–1929 (Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1994); Yaacov Reuvani, Mandatory Government 1929–1948 (Ramat Gan: Bar Ilan University Press, 1993). ...
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Research Interests: Archaeology, Ottoman History, Middle East Studies, Pilgrimage, Colonialism, and 10 moreExploration History, Protestantism, Middle Eastern Studies, Church History, Historical Jesus, Pilgrimage and travel to the Holy Land, Holy Land Studies, Historical Studies, History of Sacred Spaces and Holy Sites, and Israel Palestine
According to Ottoman historiography, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the Ottoman state adopted the European civilizing mission and discourse towards the nomadic tribal population in the empire. This phenomenon was... more
According to Ottoman historiography, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the Ottoman state adopted the European civilizing mission and discourse towards the nomadic tribal population in the empire. This phenomenon was usually referred to as ‘borrowed colonialism’. However, recently, new studies began to challenge that view, arguing that officials used civilizing discourse to justify their failures in dealing with the nomads, or that they used derogatory references strategically towards specific ends. Interestingly, studies from both groups use the establishment of the town and sub-district of Beersheba in southern Palestine to support their views. Based on Ottoman sources, the main argument of this article is that the fact that the Bedouins were perceived by the state as ‘ignorant’ and ‘wild’ caused its officials to demonstrate leniency and bestow special treatment upon them in order to integrate them in the Ottoman state and administration.
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This study examines the development of official policy, mainly regarding land and settlement, in the three decades following Israel’s establishment, focusing on ad hoc committees appointed to deal with Bedouin issues. The majority of the... more
This study examines the development of official policy, mainly regarding land and settlement, in the three decades following Israel’s establishment, focusing on ad hoc committees appointed to deal with Bedouin issues. The majority of the committee reports included suggestions for ending disputes between the Bedouin and the State over Negev lands and/or to establish Bedouin permanent settlement. However, few of the proposals were implemented; de facto recommendations were halted before or shortly after implementation began. Based on archival documentation, the study reveals that State policy was ad hoc, inconsistent and constantly changing.