Rural settlement patterns in Eretz-Israel

The pattern of settlement in Eretz-Israel (Palestine) is the result of two separate cultural systems, which have developed side-by-side in a small territory. One of the two systems is of modern origin, while the other was the result of long and continuous development. The Jewish pattern is rigid and, contrary to prevailing trends, strongly nucleated. The "traditional' Arab patterns, on the other hand, are more varied and dynamic. This paper presents and explains these patterns, and reviews available information on historical, cultural, ideological, and economic factors which account for their relative importance and spatial distribution. The description of the patterns is followed by a discussion of their relative strength. The findings indicate that the patterns represent diverging processes which were specific to certain historical situations. -from Authors