Cross-Cultural Encounters, Western Colonialism and Solidarity with Palestine.

The article discusses two books published by Oxford University Press in 2023 that shed light on the cross-cultural encounters between Western societies and Palestine. The first book, "Christian Homeland," explores the history of the Episcopalian Church's activities in the Middle East, particularly its debates on Palestine and Zionism. The book reveals a deep solidarity that emerged between American missionaries and Arab Palestinians facing an existential threat from Zionism. The second book, "Russian-Arab Worlds," is an anthology of texts that highlights the Russian infatuation with Palestine, especially during the tsarist era. It discusses the involvement of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society in establishing Russian churches, coordinating pilgrimages, and establishing schools in Palestine. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for further research to uncover the rich tapestry of Palestine's international and intercultural relations. [Extracted from the article]