Mindful, P F Tinmore,
et al,
It is merely a territorial reference name; ---- its meaning buried in the context of the historical association.
The maps in the back of my Bible call the place Palestine. Preachers call the place Palestine in their sermons.
I don't know how many times we've explained how that name came about.
(COMMENT)
The entire basis of the discussion is about the historical connection established. The question of --- "Who are the Palestinians" --- is an argument that has little or no bearing on the issues of the day. Who they are today, is defined by what they manage to control today
(which is a deeper question - that may have an answer that they are not proud of). In the 20th century, we've seen two dozen
Empires and Dynasties change; one of which was the Ottoman Empire --- the origins of which can be traced back to the late 11th century and the Turkic Emirates of Anatolian
Beyliks. At the turn of the 19th-to-20th Century, much of what we call "Palestine" today was under the administration of the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem --- a S
anjak within the
Syria Vilayet [
(Damsacus) of the Ottoman Empire]. There was no political subdivision known as "Palestine" with the Ottoman Empire --- not for 500 years. "Palestine" was a "regional" name denoting the administrative divisions covered by the Sanjak of Nablus, Sanjak of Acre, and the Mutasarrfate of Jerusalem
(Special Ottoman District).
(Note: This is historically why today, both the State of Israel (circa 1967) and the State of Palestine (circa 1988) each claim Jerusalem as their respective capitals.)
Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem
The Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem (
Ottoman Turkish: Kudüs-i Şerif Mutasarrıflığı; Arabic: متصرفية القدس الشريف), also known as the Sanjak of Jerusalem was an
Ottoman district with special administrative status established in 1872. The district encompassed Jerusalem as well as the other major cities of Gaza, Jaffa,
Hebron, Bethlehem and Beersheba. During the late Ottoman period, the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem, together with the Sanjak of Nablus and Sanjak of Acre, formed the region that was commonly referred to as "Southern Syria" or "Palestine".
The pro-Jihadists that wish to turn the question into an argument over the sovereign rights to the territory are merely attempting to grasp at straws to suggest there is a moral and historical obligation to recognize the Palestinians as a people and a nation. It has nothing to do with the evolution over time of the territorial control over the land parcel. Historically, there are very - very - few territories in the world that have not undergone an evolutionary change in sovereignty and the complexion of governmental control. The area, formerly known as the territory under the Mandate for Palestine, is a land parcel that has changed sovereign control many - many times.
Today, we are discussing the consequences to the evolution of territorial control in the last half century (since 1948). While I find it interesting at how some might re-interpret the historical connections, it has nothing to do with the evolution as viewed today in terms of recognition of sovereignty and control. No matter how the contemporary Palestinian might view history, or whether they recognize the legitimacy of the State of Israel --- it exists.
The issue of the day is not whether there is a historical connection --- it is not a matter of recognition --- it is not a matter of legitimacy... It is a matter of reestablishing regional peace and the neutralization of radical Islamic influences and Jihadist activity.
Most Respectfully,
R