Israel & the Palestinian Territories - The Dead Sea (Chapter) Lonely Planet

The lowest place on the face of earth, the Dead Sea brings together breathtaking natural beauty, compellingly ancient history and modern mineral spas that soothe and pamper every fibre of your body.

Coverage includes: Ein Gedi, North of Ein Gedi, Masada, Ein Bokek, Sodom and Neot Hakikar.

Israel & the Palestinian Territories - The Dead Sea (Chapter)  

Israel & the Palestinian Territories - Jerusalem (Chapter) Lonely Planet

Jerusalem has been seducing travellers, pilgrims and curiosity seekers since time immemorial. Holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians, the city overflows with sites of intense religious importance and, even for the nonreligious, it's hard not to be moved by the living history in its narrow alleys.

Coverage includes: Around Jerusalem: Abu Ghosh, Sorek Caves, Haella Valley, Beit Guvrin & Tel Maresha and Latrun.

Israel & the Palestinian Territories - Jerusalem (Chapter)

Lonely Planet: Israel and the Palestinian Territories phrasebooks

Lonely Planet: Israel and the Palestinian Territories phrasebooks > You can now read all Lonely Planet eBook travel guides downloaded from their site in PDF format on Kindle, Sony Reader and Nook eReading devices, plus all Smartphones, iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Android, Blackberry, Netbooks, Mac, and PC.

Lonely Planet: Israel & the Palestinian Territories

Lonely Planet: Israel & the Palestinian Territories > You can now read all Lonely Planet eBook travel guides downloaded from their site in PDF format on Kindle, Sony Reader and Nook eReading devices.

Jerusalem Virtual Library: The Academic Database on Historic Jerusalem

Jerusalem Virtual Library: The Academic Database on Historic Jerusalem

The Jerusalem Library, initiated in 2001 by Prof. Sari Nusseibah, President of Al-Quds University and Prof. Ronnie Ellenblum of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is meant to be a comprehensive resource for the history of Jerusalem. The library, hosted together by the two universities, enables free access to digitized historical materials and primary sources about Jerusalem. The collections are based on the archives of the Jewish National Library, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the collections of al-Quds University.
To date, most of the historical sources are kept in national, religious, municipal and private archives and are not accessible to all. Physical and non-tangible barriers prevent potential readers, in Jerusalem and elsewhere from exploring the vast and complicated history of the city. The virtual library is meant to overcome these barriers
The Library makes use of innovative content-oriented IT tools and enables a more convenient, home-based search in the documents themselves. The biggest part of the collections are books, maps, photographs, engravings and inscriptions published for the first time before the beginning of the 20th century.
The material is scanned, OCR'd and thoroughly indexed. The indexing was carried out by a group of Palestinian and Israeli students who were supervised by specialists specializing in Classical Languages, Arabic and Islamic Studies, Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Geography History and Christianity,
The basic idea of the library is to enable the user to retrieve indexed extracts of various fields. Efforts were made to include topics such as gender, feelings, various stages in life, love, war, hatred, inter-community relations and other topics which are usually not included in traditional indexes. These features will enable the Library users to directly access historical data, thus eliminating the external narrator or historian as the interpreter of history.
Creating such an academic unbiased approach to the history of Jerusalem is a challenging task for while Jerusalem is the contested capital of two peoples, it is also a spiritual center for each of the world's three monotheistic religions and a universal symbol of hope and holiness. Through the Library, Jerusalem will be made accessible not only to its own residents and the countries that shoulder responsibility for its future, but to the entire world.

Israel Antiquities Authority Scientific Archive 1919-1948

Israel Antiquities Authority Scientific Archive 1919-1948

About the Archives 

The archive of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) is located in Jerusalem. It essentially continues the archive from the British Mandate era. Following the conquest of Palestine by British forces, headed by General Allenby in 1918, the documentation and data collecting of ancient and archaeological sites had begun. Once a civil government was established by the British Mandatory Authorities in 1920, the Department of Antiquities was created and the archive had become an integral part of it.

The Department of Antiquities of the State of Israel was founded on July 26, 1948, Its activities were based on British Mandate Antiquities ordinances. In 1978, the Mandate ordinances were superseded by the Law of Antiquities that was passed by the Knesset. In 1990, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) was established and replaced the Department of Antiquities. 

About the Project 

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) archive entered the government project of “intensifying national foundations and heritage”, with the aim of preserving and digitizing the British Mandatory section. 

The purpose of the project is to enable the wide public in Israel and across the world accessing this unique data. 

The digitations project includes, first and foremost, the physical preservation of the different files, which include hand and typewritten texts, photographs, maps and plans that appear on a variety of papers, including greaseproof, rice, stencils and others.
The process of digitations is done to preserve the original data for generations to come. The process prevents the physical deterioration of the material and its wear out, caused by the touch of human hands and the climatic changes. The process consists of digitizing the data and indexing it.

At this first stage, the digital archive includes the scientific Mandatory archive in English; accordingly, the site was developed in English, with a general explanation in Hebrew.

Israeli Left Archive

"The Israeli Left Archive is devoted mainly to the radical left and the women's peace movement in Israel during the sixties, seventies and the eighties. It is in this period, immediately preceding the introduction of computer technologies, that the bulk of the Kaminer collection was gathered. They stopped collecting material towards the end of the eighties mainly due to the spread of computerized documentation throughout society and the left. From the early nineties, the preservation and the recovery of movement materials became a vastly simpler goal.

The basic categorization is based on the different groups active in the radical left: Women in Black - Shani - Reshet: Israel Women's Peace Net - Women and Peace - SIAH (Israeli New Left) - SHASI (Israel Socialist Left) - Committee for Solidarity with Birzeit University - Committee Against the War in Lebanon - Matzpen - Dai L'Kibbush - Campus - Yesh Gvul - 21st Year - Black Panthers (Israel) - Electoral Initiatives - Movement for Peace and Security - Left Zionists.
...
This collection contains around 400 periodicals dating from the 60's to the 90's. The periodicals were published by some of the organizations in this archive (Matzpen and related organizations, Shasi, Siah, Women In Black and Left Zionist groups), but also by organizations that were not included (AKI and an Independent Socialist group) ."

 Israeli Left Archive is hosted by International Institute of Social History (IISH) in Amsterdam.

A Bibliography on Christianity in Palestine/Eretz-Israel

A Bibliography  on Christianity in Palestine/Eretz-Israel

This ongoing bibliographical project was launched in the year 2000 on behalf of the Center for the Study of Christianity of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Its immediate purpose is to fill the evident gap in the set of bibliographical resources and provide a convenient and easily accessible tool for the worldwide scholarly community. The ultimate goal of the project, of which the results of only the first stage are now being made available, is to assemble as much bibliographical material as possible so that eventually a comprehensive bibliography on Christianity in Palestine will become available.     more about ...  

Historical Photographs of the Land of Israel

Historical Photographs of the Land of Israel: Younes & Soraya Nazarian Library, University of Haifa

The Land of Israel has always attracted professional and amateur photographers. Over the years, archives, institutions and individuals have kept rare collections, documenting its unique views and people. The university's library operates for the digital conservation and documentation of these contents, in order to keep them from wearing out and to provide accessibility for education and research purposes.

In the website are photographs from various sources that were donated to the library's Digital Media Center.

The digital collection is part of the work done by the library of Haifa University. Its purpose is to expose and provide accessibility to historical photographs of the Land of Israel. The project started as cooperation with the department of Land of Israel Studies in Haifa University and Bitmuna project.

The library staff scans and catalogues the photographs. Identification of documented locations, people and events is done with the help of collection owners, information received from users, and the kind help of Mr. Kanisberg, Ronnie.

The website allows access to the library's photographs collections according to theme, contributor or geography. It also allows access to the Digital Media Center's search options, where you can search freely for various materials.

All the photographs in the Historical Photographs of the Land of Israel website are available to the public, under fair use and copyright limitations.

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Preservation of historical periodical collections (1900-1950) at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Library in East Jerusalem

Preservation of historical periodical collections (1900-1950) at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Library in East Jerusalem
Many early Arab newspapers from the historical periodical collections (1900-1950) at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Library in East Jerusalem are now available online for research purposes.
The newspapers were digitized by British Library Endangered Archives Programme.

"During the project 24 historical publications, including 13 newspapers and 11 journals and magazines, were converted into digital format. Most of the periodicals were published in Palestine during the British Mandate Period (1917-1948), but among the titles selected for the project there was also a publication from the time of the Ottoman Empire, Al-Jinan (1874), and a few publications from the pre-war period, such as Al-Mahaba (1901), Al Hasna (1909-1912), Tazwir Afkar (1909), and Al-Muqtabas (1908-1916). The project resulted in the digitisation of 24 titles, 6,699 issues and 53,783 pages.

The records copied by this project have been catalogued as:

• EAP119/1 Periodical collection of the al-Aqsa Mosque Library (1874-1955)"

Full catalog entries for the collection can be seen in The British Library’s main archives and manuscripts catalogue: http://searcharchives.bl.uk/

View files from this project.

Currently available:
*Title: Majallat Rawdat al-Ma'arif (1922-1934)
*Title: Rawdat al-Ma'arif (1326-1327AH) [1908-1909]
*Title: al-'Arab (1933-1934)
*Title: al-Fajr (1935)
*Title: al-Hasna' (1909-1912)
*Title: al-Huquq (1923-1928)
*Title: al-Jami'ah al-'Arabiyah (1927-1936)
*Title: al-Jami'ah al-Islamiyah (1932-1937)
*Title: al-Jinan (1874)
*Title: al-Kuliyyah al-Arabia (1927-1938)
*Title: al-Mahaba' (1901)
*Title: al-Muqtabas (1907-1913)
*Title: al-Sirat al-Mustaqim (1928-1938)
*Title: al-Zahrah (1922-1926)

From the list below, the first six titles are being prepared for publication. They should be available later this month. The final four titles will then be added. This will take one or two months.

-Title: Filastin (1923-1951)
-Title: Mir'at al-Sharq (1922-1936)
-Title: Sawt al-Sha'b (1927-1935)
-Title: Tasvir-i efkar (1909)
-Title: al-Aqdam (1933-1936)
-Title: al-Awqat al-'Arabiyah (1935)
-Title: al-Difa' (1934-1955)
-Title: al-Liwa' (1935-1937)
-Title: al-Muqtabas (1908-1916)
-Title: al-Qabas (1913-1934)

[Thanks to Lynda Barraclough, Endangered Archives Programme curator at BL for the update]

Also of interest : Givat Havivah Peace Archive of Palestinian newspapers.

Historical Photographs of the Land of Israel

Historical Photographs of the Land of Israel

The Land of Israel has always attracted professional and amateur photographers. Over the years, archives, institutions and individuals have kept rare collections, documenting its unique views and people. The university's library operates for the digital conservation and documentation of these contents, in order to keep them from wearing out and to provide accessibility for education and research purposes.

In the website are photographs from various sources that were donated to the library's Digital Media Center.

The digital collection is part of the work done by the library of Haifa University. Its purpose is to expose and provide accessibility to historical photographs of the Land of Israel. The project started as cooperation with the department of Land of Israel Studies in Haifa University and Bitmuna project.

The library staff scans and catalogues the photographs. Identification of documented locations, people and events is done with the help of collection owners, information received from users, and the kind help of Mr. Roni Kenisberg.

The website allows access to the library's photographs collections according to theme, chronology or geography. It also allows access to the Digital Media Center's search options, where you can search freely for various materials.

All the photographs in the Historical Photographs of the Land of Israel website are available to the public, under fair use and copyright limitations.

We would be glad to have your response, as well as more information and identifications of photographs, to: dmc@univ.haifa.ac.il

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Open Access Journal: Sharqiyya

 [First posted in AMIR 6 January 2011. Updated 19 October 2011]

Sharqiyya

Sharqiyya is a new E-journal in English published twice a year by MEISAI and the Department of Middle East  and African History at Tel Aviv University. The journal is edited by research students and invites faculty, graduate students, and independent scholars to take part in a new and unique undertaking in the field of Middle East and African studies and history.

Sharqiyya: Vol. 1 No.1, Fall 2010 

Sharqiyya: Special Issue - The Arab Spring, Fall 2011

Alphabetical List of Open Access Journals in Middle Eastern Studies

Holy Land Maps from the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection

Holy Land Maps from the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection

The Holy Land has been the subject of a relatively large number of maps, chiefly due to its religious importance. Some of the earliest maps reflected ancient traditions of mapping such as that of Ptolemy; others were meant to illustrate the Holy Scriptures. Some maps were printed separately; while others were published as part of atlases, itineraries and travel books. Owners who could afford the expense added coloring to their maps.

Many maps of the Holy Land are oriented to the east (orient=from the Latin word for east), reflecting the view point of European mapmakers looking in the direction of the Holy Land. However, there are a few maps oriented to the south, and to the west and naturally to the north. Many Biblical elements from the Old and New Testament can be traced in the maps, such as the route of the Exodus, the Tabernacle, the division of the Land among the Tribes, Moses and Aaron, the travels of Jesus and the Apostles, and others. Toward the end of the 18th century a new genre of maps emerged, characterized by the diminished use of pictorial elements. These were replaced by symbols such as letters and numbers, for example to mark the Tribes. The legends appear in the margins.

The introduction of surveying at the beginning of the 19th century brought about a significant change in the mapping of the Holy Land. Maps by Jacotin, a cartographer who accompanied Napoleon on his journey to Egypt and Palestine, were the first to be based upon scientific measurements. Later researchers such as Robinson, Kiepert and Van de Velde produced scientific maps, and in 1880, the Palestine Exploration Fund produced more accurate maps, thereby firmly establishing the basis of scientific Holy Land research.

This beautiful collection of ancient maps of the Holy Land is part of a much larger collection that includes ancient maps of the world, early printed atlases and travel books. The entire extraordinary collection was donated by its renowned owner, Eran Laor in 1975 to the Jewish National and University Library in Jerusalem. The late Mr. Laor is the author of: Maps of the Holy Land, New York, 1986.

 

Open Access Journal: Proche-Orient Chrétien

Proche-Orient Chrétien (POC)
Vol. 1 (1955) - vol. 55 (2005)

Some pieces of information: Ecumenical journal of the White Fathers of Saint Anne's at Jerusalem and the Faculty of Religious Studies of Religious Sciences of Saint Joseph University on theological thinking, spirituality, and actual life at the Oriental Mediterranean churches.

Alphabetical List of Open Access Journals in Middle Eastern Studies

Open Access Journal: Jewish Studies - an Internet Journal

Jewish Studies - an Internet Journal

Current issue

Forthcoming issue

Past issues:

Vol. 1, 2002 Vol. 2, 2003 Vol. 3, 2004 Vol. 4, 2005 Vol. 5, 2006 Vol. 6, 2007

Vol. 7, 2008

Alphabetical List of Open Access Journals in Middle Eastern Studies

Open Access Journal: Majallat al-majma'

Majallat al-majma' (i.e. majma' al-Qâsimî lil-lugha al-'arabiyya)

"A Refereed Periodical Specialized in the Study of Arabic Language and Literature"

of the Majma' al-Qâsimî lil-lugha al-'arabiyya - Al-Qasemi Arabic Language Academy

2nd issue 1431/2010

1st issue 1430/2009


Alphabetical List of Open Access Journals in Middle Eastern Studies

Open Access Journal: The Palestinian strategic report

The Palestinian strategic report.
Publisher: Beirut, Lebanon : Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies & Consultations.
Other Titles: Strategic report, Palestinian annual strategic report, Taqrīr al-istirātījī al-Filasṭīnī.
Issued also in Arabic as : التقرير الاستراتيجي الفلسطيني
Frequency : Annual

"The Palestinian Strategic Report is a highly academic annual report that assesses the Palestinian situation. It rigorously studies the developments of various aspects of the Palestinian issue, i.e., internal political affairs, economic development, demographic indicators, the Arab, Islamic and international stands and the Israeli attitudes and policies, all within an academic, well-documented context that is supported with the most recent statistical data..."

Alphabetical List of Open Access Journals in Middle Eastern Studies

Open Access Database: Congressional Monitor Database

The Congressional Monitor Database - A Project of the Institute for Palestine Studies

"The Institute for Palestine Studies’ Congressional Monitor project, launched in 2006, tracks every legislative initiative introduced in the U.S. Congress that mentions Palestine or Israel or has bearing on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict."