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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.
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The founding of the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in 1909 and its short term of activity represent a pioneering and unique attempt at inter-communal cooperation with the purpose of developing the local economy... more
The founding of the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in 1909 and its short term of activity represent a pioneering and unique attempt at inter-communal cooperation with the purpose of developing the local economy and improving the infrastructures that would support economic expansion and improve the conditions of the local population. The chamber of commerce brought together prominent Muslims, Christians and Jews, both local Ottoman and foreign, who engaged in commerce, industry and agriculture. This all was happening during a time of uncertainty, change and optimism following the Young Turk revolution and the restoration of the constitution in July 1908. The Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce fostered horizontal linkages across religion and ethnicity through Ottoman citizenship and the pursuit of modernist economic and social goals. The discussion details the founding and the activities of the Jerusalem chamber of commerce. Highlighted are the concerns of local businessmen and their plans for infrastructure development and their promotion of better economic regulations. The discussion draws upon eight issues of its bulletin and underscores the unique resources found in the short-lived publication and evaluates their reliability.
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This article follows the course of the prolonged land dispute within the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem between the Greek religious establishment and the local Arab laity from the late Ottoman period to the end of the British Mandate... more
This article follows the course of the prolonged land dispute within the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem between the Greek religious establishment and the local Arab laity from the late Ottoman period to the end of the British Mandate (1875–1948). The article examines state policies in relation to Church-owned property and assesses how the administration of this property affected the inter-communal relationship. It is argued that both the Ottoman and the British authorities effectively adopted a pro-Greek stance, and that government refusal of the local Arab lay demands was predominantly predicated on regional and global political priorities.
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As part of the peace accords with Egypt over 30 years ago, Israel was required to evacuate the Sinai Peninsula and to transfer its three military bases to the Negev. The largest of them was moved to Tel Malhata in the northern Negev.... more
As part of the peace accords with Egypt over 30 years ago, Israel was required to evacuate the Sinai Peninsula and to transfer its three military bases to the Negev. The largest of them was moved to Tel Malhata in the northern Negev. Toward its establishment, it was necessary to evacuate and resettle the Bedouin residents. The article reconstructs and analyzes the steps that preceded this process, including specific legislation, attempts to reach agreements during the legislative process, and the program that was ultimately accepted and implemented. It traces the circumstances that made it possible for the resettlement to take place without extensive public protest and without the authorities having to resort to enforcement. It examines the implications of this process for the long-term relationships between the State of Israel and its Bedouin citizens. Moreover, a complex of factors is presented, both changing and permanent, internal and external, that influenced the outcome. The contribution of this study lies in its scrutiny of the successes, limitations, failures, and future implications of the process through the perspective of time. Thus, it can serve as the basis for understanding the contextual changes that have taken place from then until today.
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Colonial governments frequently employed policies that either developed colonies for the benefit of the colonial power or neglected areas not viewed as contributory. Land laws and settlement policies were instrumental tools for the... more
Colonial governments frequently employed policies that either developed colonies for the benefit of the colonial power or neglected areas not viewed as contributory. Land laws and settlement policies were instrumental tools for the extension of governmental control to marginal regions under the sequential regimes that ruled the Middle East in the 19th and 20th centuries. Our case study of the
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This paper is a sequel to Fischel and Kark's study on the private lands owned by Sultan Abdülhamid II (1842-1918, ruled 1876-1909) in Palestine and analyzes their fate after his forced abdication. In particular, we examine the court... more
This paper is a sequel to Fischel and Kark's study on the private lands owned by Sultan Abdülhamid II (1842-1918, ruled 1876-1909) in Palestine and analyzes their fate after his forced abdication. In particular, we examine the court cases that arose around these lands, cases which were initiated by his heirs after 1920. For 28 years the heirs, led by his eldest son, Mohammad Selim and his daughter Amina Namika, approached half a dozen governments in the Middle East and Europe to regain the properties they claimed. The appeals represented a test of the British colonial legal system as well as issues of land settlement and the role of foreign courts in interpreting Turkish and Ottoman law. We furthermore examine the disposition of the sultan's lands from his abdication in 1909 to the last attempts by his heirs to recover them from the State of Israel in 1950, the general context of his lands in the Middle East as a whole, and the legal precedent set by the Mandatory Palestine ...
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This paper surveys the private lands owned by of Sultan Abdülhamid II in Palestine and analyzes their spatial distribution and impact, in the context of regional imperial policy. In the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the Ottoman... more
This paper surveys the private lands owned by of Sultan Abdülhamid II in Palestine and analyzes their spatial distribution and impact, in the context of regional imperial policy. In the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the Ottoman Empire faced serious external and internal problems. Sultan Abdülhamid II (r. 1876-1909) used various traditional and modern methods in order to increase the internal cohesion of the empire and strengthen itvis-à-visexternal threats.One unique measure taken by the sultan was the purchase of large tracts of land. He became one of the largest landowners in the empire. In Palestine alone, the sultan purchased around 3% of the total area and initiated measures to increase these lands' productivity for his Privy Purse. In addition to gaining economic profit, Abdülhamid II employed his private lands to solve problems which challenged the sovereignty of the empire. These included attempts to settle the Bedouins, the establishment of new towns in order ...
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... In Israel, many Arab villages in Jerusalem's hinterland fell into ruin over the years, or were repopulated by Jewish immigrants. Our discussion begins at the turn of the 19th century when all of Jerusalem was... more
... In Israel, many Arab villages in Jerusalem's hinterland fell into ruin over the years, or were repopulated by Jewish immigrants. Our discussion begins at the turn of the 19th century when all of Jerusalem was encompassed by its walls, and the city was divided into quarters and ...
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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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... In Israel, many Arab villages in Jerusalem's hinterland fell into ruin over the years, or were repopulated by Jewish immigrants. Our discussion begins at the turn of the 19th century when all of Jerusalem was... more
... In Israel, many Arab villages in Jerusalem's hinterland fell into ruin over the years, or were repopulated by Jewish immigrants. Our discussion begins at the turn of the 19th century when all of Jerusalem was encompassed by its walls, and the city was divided into quarters and ...
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The Garden City Movement is recognized as a dominant forerunner of modern urban planning. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the broad popularity and selective adoption of Garden City concepts in Zionist circles and the Jewish Yishuv... more
The Garden City Movement is recognized as a dominant forerunner of modern urban planning. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the broad popularity and selective adoption of Garden City concepts in Zionist circles and the Jewish Yishuv (Community) in Palestine, to document their implementation in Jewish urban settlement in Palestine, and to follow their local evolution into the creation of a unique urban fabric. We show how the Garden City ideology and its implementation in England and Germany influenced the Zionist movement, its leaders, and settlers in Ottoman and British Mandatory Palestine, and led them to adopt and adapt concepts of the Garden City model as the ‘national paradigm’ of the new Jewish urban planning in Palestine. The planning was influenced by Garden City ideas, with modifications to Ebenezer Howard's original model made to suit local traditions, public demand, and Zionist goals. The application of the message of the Garden City movement to the physical model beginning unintentionally with the building of Ahuzat Bayit (Tel Aviv) in 1909, created a guiding principle for Jewish urban development in Palestine from 1905 until 1945, and continues to exert its influence on current planning. In conclusion, the article adds a dimension to the emerging picture of early twentieth-century Zionist settlement in Palestine as a laboratory for implementing novel planning ideas of international importance.
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This article examines land privatization in late nineteenth-century Ottoman Palestine through the extension of possession in miri lands, on the one hand, and its transformation into fee-simple property through change in land category... more
This article examines land privatization in late nineteenth-century Ottoman Palestine through the extension of possession in miri lands, on the one hand, and its transformation into fee-simple property through change in land category classification (i.e., miri to mülk), on the other. Using primary sources, particularly Ottoman documents and correspondence of the German Consulate in Jerusalem, we analyze this process, as reflected in several cases involving foreign subjects and Ottoman authorities. We argue that privatization began as informal violations of the law, proceeded with the struggle of landholders against authorities who tried to reverse the process, and ended in victory for the landholders after the state ceded to their demands, inter alia, as a result of pressure from foreign nations and their consuls. Thus did de facto land privatization become de jure privatization.
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Dissent between the clerical establishment and lay followers is not an infrequent phe-nomenon 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 phe-nomenon 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. ...
This paper follows the course of the prolonged land dispute within the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem between the Greek religious establishment and the local Arab laity from the late Ottoman period to the end of the British Mandate... more
This paper follows the course of the prolonged land dispute within the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem between the Greek religious establishment and the local Arab laity from the late Ottoman period to the end of the British Mandate (1875-1948). The paper examines the state policies in relation to Church–owned property and assesses how the administration of this property affected the inter-communal relationship. It is argued that both the Ottoman and British authorities effectively adopted a pro-Greek stance, and that governmental denial of the local Arab lay demands was predominantly predicated on regional and global political priorities.
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Multiculturalism in Israeli society is examined in this article in the light of the phenomenon of museums. Commencing with general definitions, examples and historical observations of multiculturalism in diverse parts of the world, in... more
Multiculturalism in Israeli society is examined in this article in the light of the phenomenon of museums. Commencing with general definitions, examples and historical observations of multiculturalism in diverse parts of the world, in ancient and modern times (following Taylor, Geertz, Walzer and Bennett and Israeli researchers such as Nahtomi, Mautner, Sagi, Shamir and Kimmerling), the question is posed whether the divided and highly polarized Israeli society, meets the criteria of these definitions as a multicultural society. In view of the high ratio of museums to population size in Israel (over 200 existing museums) and the growth of ethnographic museums in the last two decades (representing over 10% of the total), this study suggests that in the history of multiculturalism in the Israeli context, ethnocentricity seems to be the initial step, as reflected by the ethnic re-awakening taking place in the country (expressed also in the form of thematic museums). Subsequently, museum...
Contested Indigeneity: The Development of an Indigenous Discourse on the Bedouin of the Negev, Israel ABSTR ACT The article examines the history of the development of a discourse that regards the Bedouin of the Negev desert in Southern... more
Contested Indigeneity: The Development of an Indigenous Discourse on the Bedouin of the Negev, Israel ABSTR ACT The article examines the history of the development of a discourse that regards the Bedouin of the Negev desert in Southern Israel as an indigenous people of Israel. This movement has generated a great deal of activity in recent years, particularly the submission of a petition to the U.N. by activ-ists asking for the Bedouin to be recognized as having indigenous commu-nal rights in 2005. The subject is examined in the context of the worldwide recognition of indigenous rights that culminated in the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was adopted on the 13th of September 2007. The article takes account of the processes and activities of individuals who have helped lead and craft a narrative of an indigenous Bedouin identity. It also explores the rise of an indigenous consciousness movement as reflected in states, academic institutions, NGOs, and indi-...
page/terms-and-conditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any... more
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This paper will consider the objectives of the Ottoman Land Code, the Tabu Law of 1858 and the 1867 Law that permitted foreign citizens to acquire urban and rural land, and will assess their significance, impact, and success or failure in... more
This paper will consider the objectives of the Ottoman Land Code, the Tabu Law of 1858 and the 1867 Law that permitted foreign citizens to acquire urban and rural land, and will assess their significance, impact, and success or failure in Palestine in light of the objectives. I will touch upon issues such as the abolition of the musha'a, land surveys, systematic mapping, land registration and land settlement. Special emphasis will be given to the dominant and important process of the privatization of landownership and the resulting phenomenon of large agricultural estates and estate buildings in Palestine and their impact on the land and landscape. The main catalyst of this process, and even of the establishment of new villages and new cities in the Ottoman Empire in general and in Palestine in particular, were the Ottoman Land Laws. By the end of Ottoman rule in Palestine private estates covered over a million dunams out of a total land area of 27 million metric dunams, compris...
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makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the "Content") contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic re...
This chapter relates to the environmental history of Palestine during the late Ottoman period. It considers stages in the process of environmental and spatial change in the landscape of Palestine in the 19 th century and beginning of the... more
This chapter relates to the environmental history of Palestine during the late Ottoman period. It considers stages in the process of environmental and spatial change in the landscape of Palestine in the 19 th century and beginning of the 20 th century (1798-1918) and the determinants and catalysts. During this period, which began with Napoleon's invasion of Egypt, Palestine and the Levant, Palestine was transformed from a neglected backwater of the Ottoman Empire to a focal point of world attention. Consideration is given to changes in the natural landscape of forests, wetlands, and other habitats, resulting from spatial change, including changes in land use, that were a consequence of political and legal reforms as well as immigration to Palestine. These processes influenced the nomadic and the settled populations, land ownership patterns and agricultural practices. It is surprising that Palestine's unique environmental history during this period has received only modest at...
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journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including... more
journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright Abstract Historical maps of the Negev Desert which comprises half of the total land area of Palestine can be viewed from several intersecting perspectives relating to aspects such as their contribution to tracing patterns of settlement and agricultural history, imperialism and mapping, and legal geography of...
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In the last two decades, there has been widespread application of the term" indigenous" in relation to various groups worldwide. However, the meaning of this term and its uses tend to be inconsistent and variable. The expression... more
In the last two decades, there has been widespread application of the term" indigenous" in relation to various groups worldwide. However, the meaning of this term and its uses tend to be inconsistent and variable. The expression derives from the interaction of different ...
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The construction of Jewish neighbourhoods and Christian buildings outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem is a well-documented process. However, little is known about Muslim buildings outside the Old City and of the social... more
The construction of Jewish neighbourhoods and Christian buildings outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem is a well-documented process. However, little is known about Muslim buildings outside the Old City and of the social processes connected with this building ...
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... on State land (from Judea Egypt) ,880 ,sea j 1858 To fallahin T Ottoman Land Law To the State 1870 1869 Purchase by a Jerusalem banker Melville Peter Bergheim. 1869 Identification of ancient Gezer 1880 1990 J 1910 1920 1930 J 1913... more
... on State land (from Judea Egypt) ,880 ,sea j 1858 To fallahin T Ottoman Land Law To the State 1870 1869 Purchase by a Jerusalem banker Melville Peter Bergheim. 1869 Identification of ancient Gezer 1880 1990 J 1910 1920 1930 J 1913 3600 dunam transferred voluntarily to ...
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... However, from the fifth century on, opposition to this ideology increased, and it remained the ... 1101 The connection between Christian millenarian ideas and the restoration of Israel also developed ... The biblical concept of the... more
... However, from the fifth century on, opposition to this ideology increased, and it remained the ... 1101 The connection between Christian millenarian ideas and the restoration of Israel also developed ... The biblical concept of the Holy Land evoked an image of peace and agricultural ...
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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, or Greek Orthodox, and which number about 71,000 members.
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... 159, No. 1, March 1993, pp. 70-80 The cadastral mapping of Palestine, 1858-1928 DOV GAVISH AND RUTH KARK ... Among these laws were the Ottoman Land Law of 1858, additions and amendments to the Ottoman civil code in 1876 and the... more
... 159, No. 1, March 1993, pp. 70-80 The cadastral mapping of Palestine, 1858-1928 DOV GAVISH AND RUTH KARK ... Among these laws were the Ottoman Land Law of 1858, additions and amendments to the Ottoman civil code in 1876 and the 1912-1913 laws. ...
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ABSTRACT In the late Ottoman and Mandatory periods, Palestine's rural landscape underwent a great transformation. This study examines how the Muslim population expanded beyond its traditional inhabitation in the highlands and... more
ABSTRACT In the late Ottoman and Mandatory periods, Palestine's rural landscape underwent a great transformation. This study examines how the Muslim population expanded beyond its traditional inhabitation in the highlands and settled the fluid inventory of marginal lands in the coastal plains and unpopulated valleys of Palestine. In settling these marginal landscapes their settlement dovetailed with Jewish settlement patterns. While most studies have emphasized the competitive aspect of this process, examining Zionist and Arab national claims, this research points to a different aspect of this new settlement—mainly how much the Jewish and Muslim settlement patterns mirrored one another and how they were part of similar physical processes and complemented one another. Relying on censuses, aerial photographs, and period maps, as well as other archival sources, this is the first systematic research to examine the full extent of new Muslim settlements in Palestine in the late Ottoman and Mandatory periods, and to draw parallels between this phenomenon and the settlement endeavors of the Zionists.
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One of the most interesting Protestant sects that settled in Palestine from 1881 onwards, and that operated successfully for more than fifty years, was the American-Swedish “Colony” in Jerusalem.1 Known in its early years as the... more
One of the most interesting Protestant sects that settled in Palestine from 1881 onwards, and that operated successfully for more than fifty years, was the American-Swedish “Colony” in Jerusalem.1 Known in its early years as the “Spaffordites,” the group was also called the “Overcomers,” since the members' journey to Jerusalem was spurred by their desire to overcome a series of personal tragedies. The history of the “American Colony,” as it was known in Jerusalem, reveals the power of religious beliefs to motivate and shape the lives of adherents. In this case, believers emigrated, built a new community with its own order and sense of purpose, demonstrated dedication, and made sacrifices in following what they considered to be divine commands. The American Colony also exemplifies the limited possibility of sustaining a religious community based upon intense beliefs, as one generation struggles to convey its religious tenets and social principles to the next. To reconstruct the r...
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... referred to as the "Bay Psalm Book" or the "New England Psalm Book," and later as the "New England Version of the Psalms."2 It was a Utopian concept of the Holy Land, which reflected in part the Christian... more
... referred to as the "Bay Psalm Book" or the "New England Psalm Book," and later as the "New England Version of the Psalms."2 It was a Utopian concept of the Holy Land, which reflected in part the Christian aspiration to ... The image evoked by the Holy Land was "orientally ...
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This paper presents sections gleaned from our recently completed study of the Valero family that relate to the relationship between this particular constituent of the Sephardi elite and the Arab population in Jerusalem. The time frame of... more
This paper presents sections gleaned from our recently completed study of the Valero family that relate to the relationship between this particular constituent of the Sephardi elite and the Arab population in Jerusalem. The time frame of our study is the late Ottoman and British Mandate periods. We focus upon prominent members of the Valero family, their activities within the Jewish community, their relationships with other communities and local government, and their contributions to the economic development of Palestine, as well as describe the day-today life of the family. Our study opens in the 1830s, when Ya’akov Valero began his career as a young man in Jerusalem, and ends in 1948. Detailed are the lives of four generations of the Valero family in Palestine.
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This paper 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... more
This paper 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 the clinic during his medical practice. The analysis of the photographs relates to lifestyle and traditions of Bedouin women and the ways 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 19th and 20th centuries.
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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... more
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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This article explores the relationship between the Christian mission and Israel as a modern Jewish nation state. From the rebirth of the state of Israel in 1948, some Christian Protestant Churches and missionary organizations have acted... more
This article explores the relationship between the Christian mission and Israel as a modern Jewish nation state. From the rebirth of the state of Israel in 1948, some Christian Protestant Churches and missionary organizations have acted to convert Jews to Christianity. The State of Israel has opposed such proselytizing yet wishes to maintain its commitment to freedom of religion as stated in its Declaration of Independence; nor does it wish to damage relations with the Christian world.
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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 public and private collections without contextual information. The present text takes a deep dive into the history and formation of the Ustinow collection, now in the Museum of Cultural Heritage in Oslo, seeking to recover (to the extent possible) the wealth of empirical evidence which can further elucidate archaeological material from the Near East.