Mainstream media outlets in Canada have a history of being reluctant to use the word Palestine. Some never use the word at all, opting instead to only talk about “Palestinians” while excluding their land. While using the phrase “Occupied Palestinian Territories” is increasingly more common, sometimes the media will drop the “occupied” qualifier, which creates its own set of issues. While there is an uptick in outlets plainly referring to “Palestine,” hesitation persists.
The hesitation is not random. It is the result of a sustained campaign by pro-Israel advocacy groups to muddy the history of Palestine and attempt to delegitimize its history. These efforts have been remarkably successful and even go against the beliefs of the earliest Zionists who recognized that the region was home to an indigenous population and that the Zionist project was a colonialist endeavor. As colonialism’s history has been rightly criticized, Israel has tried to distance itself from that framework, which led to the attempt to not only dispute Palestinian indigeneity and history, but to even argue the very name “Palestine” is illegitimate and a purely modern invention.
In 2021, a CBC host apologized after using the word “Palestine” on air. CBC’s Ombudsman would later say this was a mistake, but the situation represents the pressure journalists face when reporting on Palestine. Reporters from other Canadian outlets have blown the whistle on the various ways in which their ability to report was exceptionally suppressed in the context of Palestine.
It’s not just the media that avoid the term Palestine; some politicians use loaded language to demean the land and its indigenous people. Comments by Post-Secondary Education Minister Selina Robinson, that Israel was founded on a “crappy piece of land,” set off a debate in Canada about anti-Palestinian racism. The ensuing media coverage revealed just how little Canadian journalists and the public understand about Palestine’s history, especially that of its toponym.
Refusing to use the word “Palestine” suggests a racist denial of Palestinians’ very existence, homeland, culture, history, and heritage. According to the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, refusing to use the word "Palestine" is a form of anti-Palestinian racism because it erases Palestinians and their narratives, denies the Nakba, and refuses to acknowledge Palestinians as indigenous people with a collective identity.
Palestine has long existed both as a political and geographic concept — “Palestine” is not a modern invention. The placename has a rich etymology that has been extrapolated by the work of archeologists, anthropologists, and historians. This essay seeks to challenge misconceptions and highlight the importance of recognizing Palestine as a legitimate, longstanding entity by shedding light on the historical existence of Palestine, both geographically and politically, emphasizing its historical roots, political evolution, genetic heritage, and contemporary significance.
Geographically
The term "Palestine" has a long and storied history as a geographical descriptor, dating back to ancient times. Throughout history, various empires and civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans, used the term to refer to the area encompassing modern-day Israel, the occupied West Bank, and the effectively occupied Gaza Strip.
Its earliest recorded use can be traced back to 1150 BCE. Egyptian hieroglyphics referred to the Land of “Peleset,” which is hypothesized to be a reference to the people of Palestine. The King James Bible translated the term Peleset to Palestina. In the 5th century BCE, Herodotus referred to a district of Syria called “Palaistinê.” During the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem in the late Ottoman period, the area was commonly referred to as Palestine. During the British Mandate of Palestine, the term was officially revived and used to denote the territory under British administration following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The issuance of coinage, stamps, and passports bearing the name "Palestine" during this period further solidified its geographical significance. Despite the absence of a formal administrative region called Palestine under Ottoman rule, the term was widely used to describe the region inhabited by Palestinians. The thread was pulled through, so to speak, as the word Palestine was not chosen at random, but connected to thousands of years of history.
Politically
The emergence of Palestine as a political identity is a more recent development, gaining momentum in the 20th century. Prior to this, the inhabitants of Palestine identified more locally, under Ottoman rule, as inhabitants of various cantons. However, with the rise of nationalism and decolonization movements, Palestinians began to assert their political identity.
The UN Partition Plan for Palestine in 1947 marked a significant milestone in the political history of Palestine, envisioning the creation of an Arab state alongside a Jewish state. Although this plan was never fully realized, it laid the groundwork for aspirations of Palestinian statehood.
The establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1993 marked a crucial step towards Palestinian self-governance and statehood. Despite broad international support for the creation of a Palestinian state, obstacles remain, particularly due to the ongoing Israeli occupation and lack of recognition by certain countries.
Currently, Palestine and the Palestinians fulfill all the requirements recognized as necessary for the establishment of a nation-state. It is only Israel and US which continue to deny Palestinian self-determination
Since the Montevideo Convention of 1933, international law has traditionally required that four criteria be satisfied before the recognition of an entity as an independent sovereign state can be considered – a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to conduct international relations. All four of these criteria are satisfied by the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people.
Genetically
In addition to its rich history and political significance, Palestine also boasts a diverse genetic heritage that reflects its complex cultural and historical tapestry. Recent genetic studies have shed light on the ancestry of the Palestinian people, revealing a mosaic of genetic influences shaped by centuries of migration, conquest, and intermingling.
Genetic analysis has shown that Palestinians exhibit a genetic profile that is distinct from other populations in the region, reflecting their unique history and heritage. While Palestinians share genetic similarities with neighboring populations, such as Jordanians, Syrians, and Lebanese, they also possess unique genetic markers that reflect their indigenous roots in the land.
This is a bourgeoning field and cannot be relied on to tell us the whole story. However, it is a piece of the puzzle and a space to watch as scientific methods improve.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the existence of Palestine, both geographically and politically, is indisputable. From its ancient roots as a geographic descriptor to its modern political aspirations, Palestine has a rich and complex history. Refusing to acknowledge Palestine and its people not only perpetuates historical inaccuracies but also undermines the rights and aspirations of millions of Palestinians. It is imperative that the media recognize Palestine as a legitimate entity, acknowledging the diverse heritage and identity of the Palestinian people.