Israeli Palestinian conflict

Below are examples of versions of maps depicting “Palestine” as a single entity without marking the “green line”, (as well as examples of omitting Israel and referring to “Palestine” as a single entity in Palestinian textbooks) which were circulated by various bodies:

Map A: a basic empty map of “Palestine” appearing in a Palestinian textbook for homework purposes (“Natioal Education” for 3 ^rd grade).

Map B: a topographic map of “Palestine” (“The Geography of Palestine” for 7 ^th grade).

Map C: a geographical and demographic map of “Palestine” (issued by Hamas).

Map D: an embroidered map of “Palestine” (found during Operation Defensive Shield).

Map E: a traditional Palestinian costume map (based on the “1945 map of Palestine”).

The main characteristics of these maps are:

These five maps which were published by varying Palestinian elements have one thing in common, namely the fact that “Palestine” appears as a single entity extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea with no trace of the “green line” (and of course without mentioning the State of Israel).

The Hamas map only indicates the Arabic names of the Israeli cities: Natanya - Umm Khaled, Tel Aviv – Tall al-Rabbi' (next to Jaffa which is highlighted), Petah Tikva – Melabes, Eilat – Umm al-Rashrash, Beit She'an – Bisan, etc. Palestinian settlements existing prior to 1948 which no longer exist, also appear on the map.

The terminology of the geographical map (appearing in textbooks) deserves attention: the names of various places appear in Arabic rather than the current Israeli names. Thus the Yarkon River appears under its Arabic name “Al-'Uja”, Zefat [Safed] is “Safad”, Beit She'an is “Bisan” (Jaffa appears on the map while Tel Aviv has been left out). The use of Arabic terminology while omitting Israeli geographical names is also common in Palestinian textbooks.

• Hamas's map depicts highlighted tables and miniature auxiliary maps presenting facts and figures regarding the Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Arab states, and in “the lands of 1948 Palestine” (i.e. Israel), current for 2000. In addition, there are small-scale maps depicting the division of “Palestine” into districts before 1948 and a map of the Arab and Jewish population in 1992. All of this is part of the trend to instill the values of the Palestinian “right of return” and not to recognize the State of Israel.

A map of “Palestine” embroidered in green red black and white – the colors of the Palestinian flag - reinforcing the message of the Palestinian “right” to claim all of “Palestine”. This message is reinforced by further elements (i.e. no “green line”, names of Palestinian cities only, no mention of Israeli cities, the appearance of a mosque on top of the name of Jerusalem). The embroidered map only has the names of Arab settlements or mixed cities perceived by Palestinians as being of Palestinian-Arab nature (similar to the maps in Appendix A): Safed, Acre, Haifa, Nazareth, Jaffa, Nablus, Bir Zeit (which is a university but for some reason appears on the list of cities…), Ramallah, Gaza, Lod, Rafah, Jerusalem (Al-Quds), Jericho, Bethlehem, Hebron (Al- Khalil), Beersheba.

The traditional Palestinian costume map (English and Arabic). The ma , based on a map of “Palestine” from 1945, aims to instill the message of Palestinian “ownership” of all of Palestine, the continuous Palestinian presence in “Palestine” over thousands of years, and the Palestinian “right of return”, while also depict (outwardly) the national and cultural Palestinian heritage across all of “Palestine” (there is no distinction between Israel and the PA areas on this map). Predominantly Jewish-Israeli cities which existed in 1945, do not appear on the map (Tel Aviv, for instance).

Map A - An empty basic map of “Palestine” (for homework purposes)

Source : “ Al-Tarbiyah al-Wataniyyah ” (“Natioal Education”) for the 3 ^rd grade,
page 49, academic year 2002-2003

Map B- a topological map of “Palestine”

Source : “ The Geography of Palestine ” for 7 ^th grade, academic year 2001-2002

Map C- Hamas map of “Palestine”

Source : A map of “Palestine” circulated by Hamas. Data regarding the Palestinian diaspora and the refugee camps current for 2000 appears on the right. This same map was seen hanging in the home of the Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin (CNN, 6 September 2003).

Note : the right corner heading reads: our Palestine – we will never forget Palestine, the land of “Al-Israa' and Al-Mi'araj” (the nocturnal journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem riding his fine mare and his journey from Jerusalem to heaven), “the land of our fathers and forefathers”.

Map D- an embroidered map of “Palestine”
(no mention is made of Israel or Jewish-Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv)

Instilling political messages through art: an embroidered map of “Palestine” found during Operation Defensive Shield

Map E- a map of “Palestine” (1945) depicting traditional Palestinian costumes

Source: The Palestinian traditional costume map based on a 1945 map of “Palestine”. This map was published in 2001 by “ the Center for Palestinian Heritage ” in Bethlehem led by Maha Al-Saqa

Following are excerpts from the text appearing on the left hand side of the Palestinian traditional costumes map :¹

¹ The explanations appear in both Arabic and English. The versions do not always coincide with one another. The translation is based on the Arabic version with additions taken from the English version, appearing in square brackets.

“ The heritage [ethnic art] constitutes documentation [proving] ownership of the land throughout history , by projecting an accurate and full expression of the social life [at any given time]…”

“Our traditional Palestinian costumes reflect part of our particular national heritage , in which we take pride and which we praise …. as the Palestinian dress created, embroidered, and worn by the Palestinian woman constitutes documentation, I.D., and registration [creating a strong feeling of belonging]…”.

“The uninterrupted manner in which these artistically embellished costumes were passed down the generations over thousands of years , indicates the historic , deep-rooted, and cultural identity throughout all these years. [This] since the times [the ancient days of] the Canaanites, our ancient forefathers, on our land and homeland Palestine .” ²

² The phenomenon of making use of “historical” claims in order to undermine the legitimacy of the establishment of the State of Israel is familiar from history textbooks studied in the PA education system. According to these books the Canaanites were “Palestine's” first inhabitants and therefore Palestinians inhabited this region before the Jews and prior to the establishment of the kingdom of David (this is a purely ideological claim which is scientifically groundless). In the program “Mabat Sheni” (a “Second Look”), broadcast on IBA Channel One [Israel National T.V. Channel ] (8 September 2003) about the Arabs and their hatred towards Israel, a Palestinian teacher was shown saying she did not want to teach her students Israeli history. This being as Israel does not have a history in Palestine . She asked how it can be explained to students that Israel has a history in Palestine when the Palestinians are trying to drive them away from the land they (the Jews) have claimed for themselves.

Following is an excerpt from “a short summary about the 'Palestinian Heritage Center' : the center was founded in Bethlehem in 1991. Its objective: to reconstruct, document and disseminate Palestinian heritage based on an awareness of its importance in underscoring Palestinian identity, existence, and roots (culture), extending over thousands of years , and because it serves as one of the channels of the Palestinian people's struggle for establishing the roots of their Palestinian identity .”

Examples of how Palestinian textbooks fail to mention Israel and
present “Palestine” as a single entity

Example 1 - The geographical-demographic distribution of the Palestinian People

Note : The chapter on the geographical-demographic distribution of the Palestinian People (worldwide) makes note of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, “the 1948 lands”, and the “diaspora”, or in other words, Palestinians living outside “Palestine”. Israel is not mentioned and “1948 lands” appears instead. The term “1948 lands” is common Palestinian terminology for the name of the State of Israel.

Source : “ The Geography of Palestine ” for 7 th grade, page 42 (2001-2002)

Transportation routes in Palestine

Note : there is no difference between the cities of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Israel on the list of transportation routes in Palestine . All belong to “Palestine”. Umm al- Rashrash is a Red Sea port in “Palestine”. Eilat is not mentioned at all. Source: “ The Geography of Palestine ” for 7 th grade, page 75 (2001-2002)