The Politics of Maps

Document 1
Document 2
Document 3
Document 4
Document 5
Document 6
Document 7
Document 8
Document 9
Document 10
“Land Ownership in Palestine, 1945”
1) Which perspective does this map reflect?
 An Israeli perspective
 A Palestinian perspective

2) What is your evidence from the map?

Possible Answer: The map shows a majority Arab population in
twelve of sixteen districts. It identifies an area as Palestine.
There is an Arabic language transcription, and Arabic names for Al
Quds (Jerusalem) and Al Khalil (Hebron).

3) What key theme or idea does the map present?

Possible Answer: In 1945, shortly before the Partition, Arabs owned
more land than Jews in every part of Palestine, including the areas
that the UN gave to Israel.
Document 2
1) Which perspective does this map reflect?
 An Israeli perspective
 A Palestinian perspective

2) What is your evidence from the map?

Possible Answer: The isolated Jewish settlement indicates the
vulnerability of the Jewish population. The Arab Invasion
underlines Israel’s defensive posture in this war. Arrows leading
from the armies – Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia
plus Iraqi irregular forces demonstrate the threat to Israel at this
time.

3) What key theme or idea does the map present?

Possible Answer: In 1948 the infant state of Israel was attacked
from all sides by the armies of six Arab countries.
“Arab Territories Seized”
1) Which perspective does this map reflect?
 An Israeli perspective
 A Palestinian perspective

2) What is your evidence from the map?

Possible Answer: The title says that Israel is “in violation of the
U.N. partition plan.” Israel is not given a country name like the
surrounding Arab states.

3) What key theme or idea does the map present?

Possible Answer: When it was created, Israel illegally seized large
tracts of Arab land.
“Israel Map Comparison”
1) Which perspective does this map reflect?
 An Israeli perspective
 A Palestinian perspective

2) What is your evidence from the map?

Possible Answer: Israel’s small size, in contrast to other
nations, suggests concern about security. All countries and
states selected for comparison are much larger than Israel;
Lebanon, Qatar, Jamaica, or Connecticut are smaller, and thus
would not portray the same security concern.

3) What key theme or idea does the map present?

Possible Answer: Israel is a tiny state, which implies that it is not
taking up much land and that it is vulnerable to attack.
“Palestinian Villages Depopulated in 1948 and 1967”
1) Which perspective does this map reflect?
 An Israeli perspective
 A Palestinian perspective

2) What is your evidence from the map?

Possible Answer: Many dots represent “Palestinian villages
depopulated and razed by Israel,” highlighting Israeli violence
and the suffering of the Palestinian people. “Outside of the
1949 Armistice borders” suggests the illegal expansion of
Israel.

3) What key theme or idea does the map present?

Possible Answer: Israel has forcibly taken Palestinian land.
Document 6
1) Which perspective does this map reflect?
 An Israeli perspective
 A Palestinian perspective

2) What is your evidence from the map?

Possible Answer: The scale of miles with fighter plane and scud
missiles shows how close and vulnerable Israel is to potential
enemies from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

3) What key theme or idea does the map present?

Possible Answer: Israel is threatened by many surrounding enemy
states that could attack it with missiles and fighter planes.
 “Official UNRWA
Palestinian Refugee Camps”
1) Which perspective does this map reflect?
 An Israeli perspective
 A Palestinian perspective

2) What is your evidence from the map?

Possible Answer: “Registered refugee populations” shows a large
number of Palestinians living as refugees. “Palestinian Refugee
Camps” focuses on Palestinian concerns regarding displacement.
The West Bank, Gaza, and Golan Heights are labeled as “Israeli
Occupied.”

3) What key theme or idea does the map present?

Possible Answer: There are millions of Palestinian refugees
living in camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and surrounding Arab
states
“Major Terrorist Attacks
2000-2004”
1) Which perspective does this map reflect?
 An Israeli perspective
 A Palestinian perspective

2) What is your evidence from the map?

Possible Answer: “Major terror attacks” focuses on Israel’s
vulnerability to attack during this time period. The map
features Hebrew terms such as “Erez” and “Kibbutz.”
Palestinian towns, like Jericho and Nablus, are not shown.

3) What key theme or idea does the map present?

Possible Answer: Israel has suffered many terrorist attacks both
before and after the construction of the fence.
“The Old City of Jerusalem”
1) Which perspective does this map reflect?
 An Israeli perspective
 A Palestinian perspective

2) What is your evidence from the map?

Possible Answer: “Areas expropriated for…Jewish Quarter”
and “Properties taken over by Israeli settlers” highlight
Palestinian displacement by Israeli Jews. The identification of
mosques (Al-Mawlawiay, of Omar), a “site of demolished
Mughtabi Quarter,” the Al-Omariya School, and Arabic street
names highlight Arab claims to Jerusalem, while the Jewish
Quarter appears nearly empty and is described as “extended.”

3) What key theme or idea does the map present?

Possible Answer: Israel is stealing Arab land in Jerusalem.
“The Old City”
1) Which perspective does this map reflect?
 An Israeli perspective
 A Palestinian perspective

2) What is your evidence from the map?

Possible Answer: The identification of synagogues (Hurva,
Ramban, Sephardic), the Western Wall, and Biblical sites
(Mount Zion, the City of David) stress the Jewish historical
claim to Jerusalem. The Arabic Haram al-Sharif is also give the
Jewish name, “Temple Mount.” There are few Arabic names, and
the Muslim quarter appears nearly empty.

3) What key theme or idea does the map present?

Possible Answer: The Old City of Jerusalem has a historic and
contemporary Jewish identity.