A meticulously researched and timely book that surveys with a wide vision the history of Palestine. To describe it, I could do no better than to quote from Professor Masalha’s Introduction. The book “explores the evolution of the concept, histories, identity, languages and cultures of Palestine from the Late Bronze Age to the modern era."
Despite the enormous weight of politically-motivated ‘narrative’ that it must confront, there is no sense of ‘agenda’ other than to provide the most accurate, complete, and multi-faceted history of the region and people that is possible. He does not lecture. The result is "political" in the sense that it reduces to myth much of the common "narrative" used to justify the current political situation in Palestine; but the fault lies with the cobwebs he clears, not the author’s level-headed exploration of the historical record. It seems that even the book’s utterly innocuous title is judged by some to be controversial.
Prof Masahla properly separates the concept of Palestine as understood as regional and territorially based, versus as a "country". That Palestine in the sense of country has existed "across more than three millennia" is, as he demonstrates, simple historical fact. What one does with this as regards ongoing politics is another matter --- for example, I for one do not think the present situation changes according to whether or not "Palestine existed", or whether the Old Testament realms "existed" in the sense that those using them for political purposes claim. To be sure, the book by no means neglects Biblical history. The author considers these essential, but treats them for what they are.
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