Moses described the beauty and blessings of Palestine when he told the children of Israel: "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you." (Deuteronomy 8:7-9)
Palestine is strategically situated between Egypt, Syria and Arabia. This location makes the region a major crossroad for religion, culture and commerce and has lent to its tumultuous history. The area, over the years, has been controlled by empires and powers like the Egyptians, Canaanites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans and many others. |