History AND Historiography How do historians interpret the past Notes from Ian Bickerton: The Arab – Israeli Conflict

What are the factors that influence historians? Religion Ethnicity Gender and age National and political allegiances Economic circumstances Ideologies too History is a cultural construct. Individuals and groups create their own histories as a way of understanding and justifying their present behaviour

The Arab Israeli Conflict The participants have created their own narratives about: Themselves Their protagonists The place that is being contested

Zionist Interpretation Zionism is the ideology of those who promote the state of Israel in 1948 and support it ever since In their opinion they refer to Eretz Israel as they believe that Jews have a historical birthright to Israel as a homeland or state This is based on a 4000 year religious narrative and tradition. It’s the ‘Promised Land’ Zionists see the establishment and continuation of Israel a heroic epic, involving great sacrifice and hardships ( Europeans and Arabs)

Palestinian Interpretation The land is Palestine so named by the Romans who called this region Syria Palaestina They believe that they are the descendant of the original inhabitants Palestine is their birthright and the Jews who arrived there over the last century as interlopers and intruders Palestinians believe that they have made an heroic attempt to resist the takeover of their homeland by Zionists, then Israelis. They feel the need to create their independent state( Americans, Zionists and Europeans)

Key historiographical issues The war and the Palestinian exodus Naqba or war of independence? Whether the 1967 war was the result of Arab provocation or Israeli desire for expansionism Occupation of the West Bank and capture of Jerusalem

Historians of the Arab Israeli Conflict ArabPalestinianZionistPost Zionist Fouad AjamiHenry CattanMartin GilbertSimha Flapan George Antonius Rashid KhalidiEphraim KarshBenny Morris Mohammed Heikal Walid KhalidiBernard LewisIlan Pappe A.H.HouraniNur MaslhaHoward SacharTom Segev Ibrahim Abu’ Lughod Edward SaidShabtai TevethAvi Shlaim

Where is Palestine? National boundaries are often arbitrarily defined…. Leading to conflict and war Palestine itself a small region 230 KMS north- south and between kms East to West Palestine itself remained undefined until the 1 st world war Palestine is not a barren desolate wasteland but a region of geographical variety