Palestine:
Brief History:
A country in the Western Asia and across the Mediterranean Sea remained a colony of British Empire. It has over period of time undergone numerous changes in its locality and geography.
Some of these changes have been during the colonial era, while others came in after the colonial times.
During colonial period:
After the First World War (1914-1918), a larger body was formed in form of League of Nations, that introduced several new concepts.
Concept of mandate System:
The Mandate system was first of its kind, like the League itself. The purpose of Mandate system was to provide economic, social and political support to the weaker regions. Palestine fell under these territories that the world community felt needed support and assistance on these fronts (Caplan, 2011,11). These Mandate systems were divided into Class A, B, and Class C, based on their overall progress and economic standing.
Impact of these changes:
These changes have had an impact on cultural, psychological, physical and geographical front. On psychological front it has to do with the mindset and the deprivation of land. The subsequent impact has been a creation of a refugee generation that has lived across the Gaza Strip and West bank for over period of thirty years.
Geographical difference and impact has been loss of territory, shrinking of overall territory.
Prior to colonization/ Mandate System:
Ottoman Empire had a great control and influence over major parts of Asia and Africa. Palestine along with Syria and Egypt were few of these territories. They were being protected by the Porte, and the Holy places were also looked after by the Porte.
Time Period:
It was right after the First World War on account of collapse and abolishing of the Ottoman Empire that had long remained the guardian of Palestine and other similar territories that Palestine was handed over to Britain for protection and assistance in the aforementioned fields.
1926:
The major move came about in 1926 when British government decided to establish two states in this region, one that of Palestine and other a Jewish state in the name of Israel. Since then changes have been made consistently across the border areas.
Development since colonial era:
Arabic Language is the formal language spoken by large percentage of Palestinians along with Hebrew being spoken in parts where there are Jewish settlements around.
Two major areas that have undergone change in map and control:
Gaza Strip
West Bank
These are the two areas and regions that have undergone changes, occupation and transfer from time to time.
For example West Bank was under the control of Jordon for some time which had actually and originally been part of Palestine in old history.
Religious Impact:
The occupation of Jewish population has had an impact on the religious domain as well, pertaining to the sacred places that have long been disputed and claimed by both sides as places of significance with regard to their religious sentiments.
Jerusalem is one of them that was originally part of Palestine in the early 20th century and now at present is in the map of Israel and under direct control of Israel as well.
Works Cited:
Awesome.Inc. (2012, December 2). Palestine's Non Member Observer Status in UN. Retrieved from valueofdiscent: http://valueofdissent.blogspot.com/2012/12/palestines-non-member-observer-status.html.
Caplan, N. (2011). The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories. John Wiley & Sons.Press.
