    cartome.org

12 May 2002

Source: MapHist, E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography

From: E
Subject: Israel on Palestinian maps
Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 12:55:31 -0400

Maps, of course, are playing an important role in the Middle East crisis. If you want to see the Palestinian Authority textbooks maps, frequently referred to in the press, go to the website for the Center for Monitoring the Impact of Peace, a New York Jewish organization. Find them at www.edume.org/reports/index.htm. Report #P-01-03 is on Palestinian textbooks. From the Table of Contents you can see the section on maps, which is illustrated with examples. These maps erase Israel from the area it now occupies.
-------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 11:34:04 -0400
From: J
Subject: Israel on Palestinian maps

At 09:34 AM 5/11/02 -0500, you wrote:
>Maps, of course, are playing an important role in the Middle East crisis.

I cannot conceive (leaving out the argument of my own limited capacity) that the complexity of issues surrounding the political geography of this region can be easily discussed on MapHist. A few links, completely inadequate to the task:

<http://www.bgu.ac.il/NCRD/bib1/val/Palestine.htm>

<http://www.bible-history.com/bhodb/links.cfm?cat=22&sub=55>

<http://www.al-bab.com/arab/maps/maps.htm>

<http://www.archiveeditions.co.uk/Leafcopy/835lflt.htm>

<http://www.pef.org.uk/>

I am not "selling" the information present on any of these sites, but a quote does come to mind:

"Among the most memorable features of Harley's writing is his fondness for words like all, every, no, never, inherent, quintessential, universal, ubiquity, and rule. Thus it is not just some but all maps that include a hidden component of symbols, ideas, and even fictions transcending what is merely physical or technical...all maps are social...they are also all political..."From J.H. Andrews' introduction to J.B. Harley's The New Nature of Maps, The Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2001.

The following atlas addresses a few modern boundary issues: The Survey of Israel (multiauthored atlas) Atlas of Israel, Cartography Physical and Human Geography MacMillan Publishing Company New York 1985. This is the third edition (the most recent), with 40 printed color plates (numbered), in collaboration with The Survey of Israel (Tel Aviv). The first edition, published c. 1964, dealt with Israel within the 1949 armistice lines. The second edition (1970) covered the post-cease fire lines from 1967. This edition includes the territory as of 1985, but also include the Sinai (returned to Egypt 1982).
-------------------------------------------------

From: M
Subject: Re: Israel on Palestinian maps
Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 09:34:47 -0500

The map on http://www.mapi.gov.il/english_1/maps/maps.html is of an interim situation and clearly shows Palestinian responsibility in certain areas indicated on it.

The most interesting information on the www.edume.org/reports/index.htm
site is what the Palestinian school children are taught about geography and maps among other subjects.
-------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 10:47:51 +0200
Subject: Re: Israel on Palestinian maps
From: R

And it works both ways. Israel has often claimed all of Palestine as its own.

http://www.iris.org.il/sizemaps/arabwrld.htm
http://www.iris.org.il/sizemaps/egypt.htm
http://www.goisrael.com/planningyourtrip/gettingAround.asp
http://www.infotour.co.il/israel_map.html

and from the Israeli Government, Survey of Israel
http://www.mapi.gov.il/english_1/maps/maps.html
-------------------------------------------------

From: M
Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 11:22:54 EDT
Subject: Re: Israel on Palestinian maps
It is sad to note that the map on
http://www.mapi.gov.il/english_1/maps/maps.html (prepared by the government of Israel) shows the West Bank as an integral part of Israel - an idea rejected by the entire civilized world.
-------------------------------------------------

From: R
Subject: Re: Israel on Palestinian maps
Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 12:07:12 -0500

... As mentioned before the map is interim, it shows areas where agreements were already reached between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, it can not show a boundary which has not yet been agreed upon. Maps have to be read carefully so as to see what they are meant to inform, and without prejudice which adds meanings that drawn by the mapmaker.

The expression "civilized world" is definitely outdated.