From Empire to Empire: Jerusalem Between Ottoman and British Rule (Space, Place and Society)

Jerusalem during World War I: a multiethnic city in time of an acute crisis Identities in transition: contested space and identities in Jerusalem Between Ottomanism and Zionism: the case of the Sephardi community When a city changes hands: Jerusalem between Ottoman and British rule Between the Muslim-Christian associations and the Muslim national associations: the rise of intercommunal tension. The history of Jerusalem as traditionally depicted is the quintessential history of conflict and strife, of ethnic tension, and of incompatible national narratives and visions. It is also a history of dramatic changes and moments, one of the most radical ones being the replacement of the Ottoman regime with British rule in December 1917. From Empire to Empire challenges these two major dichotomies, ethnic and temporal, which shaped the history of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. It links the experiences of two ethnic communities living in Palestine, Jews and Arabs, as well as bridging two historical periods, the Ottoman and British administrations. Drawing upon a variety of sources, Jacobson demonstrates how political and social alliances are dynamic, context-dependent, and purpose-driven. She also highlights the critical role of foreign intervention, governmental and nongovernmental, in forming local political alliances and in shaping the political reality of Palestine during the crisis of World War I and the transition between regimes. From Empire to Empire offers a vital new perspective on the way World War I has been traditionally studied in the Palestinian context. It also examines the effects of war on the socioeconomic sphere of a mixed city in crisis and looks into the ways the war, as well as Ottoman policies and administrators, affected the ways people perceived the Ottoman Empire and their location within it. From Empire to Empire illuminates the complex and delicate relations between ethnic and national groups and offers a different lens through which the history of Jerusalem can be seen: it proposes not only a story of conflict but also of intercommunal contacts and cooperation. Contents 8 Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 12 Note on Transliteration 16 Introduction 20 Jerusalem During World War I 41 Identities in Transition 72 Between Ottomanism and Zionism 101 When a City Changes Hands 136 Between the Muslim-Christian 167 Concluding Remarks 197 Notes 204 Bibliography 238 Index 268