Course Introduction: Palestinian Identity
A common argument heard today is that one can simply look at old maps and see that the region encompassing the modern State of Israel was called “Palestine.” Therefore, the reasoning goes, the Palestinians — who are believed to be Arabs — are the true original people of Palestine, and the land rightfully belongs to Arabs rather than to Jews. This argument sounds straightforward at first glance, but it is historically inaccurate. The term “Palestinian” originally referred to Jews, not Arabs. Understanding the real history of the name reveals a story of Roman psychological warfare, Jewish continuity, and modern political appropriation.
This course, Palestinian Identity, explores the true origins and evolution of the artificial term “Palestinian” and how it only became exclusively associated with Arabs after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. When Jews reclaimed their ancient name “Israel,” Arabs adopted the previously Jewish-associated term “Palestinian” for political purposes.
In this course you will learn about:
- The Roman creation of the name “Syria Palaestina” as an act of cultural erasure and punishment following their victory over the Jews.
- Examples of Jewish “Palestinians” — centuries of usage, including literature, British Mandate documents and currency, along with major Jewish institutions bearing the name Palestine.
- How the artificial term “Palestinian” was co-opted in the mid-20th century and how modern political usage often involves historical projection and semantic warfare.
By the end of this course, you will have a clear, evidence-based understanding of one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Israeli-Arab conflict.