Before the arrival of Abraham in Canaan, the region was inhabited by various tribes and peoples. These included:
1. Canaanites: The most prominent group, they were city-dwellers known for their advanced urban culture.
2. Amorites: Semi-nomadic people who eventually merged with the Canaanites.
3. Hittites: Known for their influence in the northern regions of Canaan.
4. Jebusites: Inhabitants of Jerusalem before it became the City of David.
5. Girgashites and Hivites: Mentioned in biblical texts as inhabitants of Canaan.
These groups were culturally and linguistically similar.
The Arabian Peninsula on the other hand was inhabited by various Semitic-speaking tribes, but these groups were not yet identified as “Arabs” in the historical or ethnic sense that developed later. The formation of Arab identity, is closely tied to the Arabic language and later to the spread of Islam.
The majority of Palestinians are Arab in terms of their ethnic and linguistic identity, speaking Arabic as their primary language and sharing cultural and historical ties with the broader Arab world. This identification has been shaped by historical, linguistic, and cultural developments over centuries, particularly since the spread of Islam in the 7th century, which brought with it the Arabic language and culture. However, it’s important to recognize that there are also Palestinian jews and Jewish Arabs.
Jewish arabs are Jews who have historically lived in Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East and North Africa. They share the language and many aspects of the culture with their Muslim Arab neighbors, but they have distinct religious and sometimes cultural practices. Many Jewish communities in countries like Iraq, Yemen, Morocco, Egypt, and Syria have a long history in these regions. However, the establishment of Israel in 1948 and subsequent regional conflicts led to significant migrations, with many Jewish Arabs moving to Israel, Europe, and North America, often due to rising tensions and persecution in their home countries.
The term “Palestinian” was used to refer to anyone living in the geographical area known as Palestine, regardless of their religion. This included Jews, Christians, and Muslims. However, in the modern context, “Palestinian” typically refers to the Arab population with cultural and historical ties to Palestine, who primarily identify as Arab Palestinians and are predominantly Muslim or Christian.
Jews living in this region before the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 could have been considered Palestinian Jews. Today, Jewish occupying residents in the region are typically identified as Israeli, while “Palestinian” generally refers to the occupied Arab population displaced to the West Bank and Gaza, as well as Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
“Duruebube Uzii na Abosi” Chimazuru Nnadi-Oforgu
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