Historically, many Syrians viewed Palestine as "Southern Syria," a perspective that clashed with the emerging independent Palestinian national identity.
Reviewers from Middle East Policy and Gale called it a "major contribution" and "substantial new scholarship".
The book tracks these relationships through the leadership of figures like Haj Amin al-Husseini, Ahmad Shuqeiry, and Yasir Arafat. 🏛️ Historical Context and Themes The text covers nearly a century of regional development: Syria and the Palestinians: The Clash of Nation...
Talhami argues that a "clash of nationalisms"—specifically Arab nationalism, Syrian nationalism, and Palestinian particularism—led to a loss of vision for both groups.
Critics still point to the Syrian regime's use of the Palestinian cause to bolster its own legitimacy while simultaneously suppressing Palestinian dissent. 🏛️ Historical Context and Themes The text covers
Syria frequently toggled between aiding Palestinian groups (like Fatah in the 1960s) and suppressing them (in the 1970s) based on its own regime's interests.
Each movement's distinct objectives often caused unintended or deliberate interference in the others' affairs. and Yasir Arafat.
Syria and the Palestinians: the Clash of Nationalisms. - Gale