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Palestine the land of Arab arts and cultures It goes without saying that Arab Palestine is the confluence of the three monolithic religions and the cradle of civilizations. Palestine is the land of cultured and innovative Canaanites, the original Palestinians, who excelled relatively in independent characteristics in plastic arts, music, dance, sculpturing and drawing. Furthermore, Palestine strategic location on the Eastern Mediterranean between the ancient flourished civilizations of Egypt (the land of the great pyramids and the Pharos) and Iraq (the land of Mesopotamia) gave it a noticeable cultural prominence. The Arab and Muslim characteristic of Palestinian arts became evident after the advent of Islam and the Muslim conquest of Bead Al Sham (Syria), which Palestine had constituted its southern part. However, the land had been populated already by waves of Arab Semites three millennia earlier The Arab and Muslim monuments bear the witness of Palestine glorious Arab past and heritage. For example, Jerusalem is awash by innumerable Islamic and Christian Arab shrines and holy places like Haram al-Sharif and the Church of Sepulcher. Many mosques and churches exist in Bethlehem and Nazareth. Despite the Zionist occupation of Palestine in the catastrophic year of 1948 and the forced exodus of 90 per cent of its people, the Palestinians did not loose touch with their heritage and embarked on the tremendous task of resurrecting their past. Palestinian Muslims and Christians work hand by hand indefatigably to have their Arab culture alive. Through reviving their national songs, music and folkloric dances, the world community learned a lot about the Palestine. Most important, the Palestinian culture has been demonstrated by a treasure of valuable masterpieces exhibited at the Islamic museum of al-Haram al-Sharif (al-Aqsa Mosque) in Jerusalem. Its visitors come across an impressive collection of Islamic metal works, glasswork, marble work, carved wooden panels, scripts, folios, golden inscription and ornamentations. The Palestinian tragedy had, by and large, inspired poets, sculptors, musicians, painters, dancers, filmmakers, photographers and artists of all streaks. Nevertheless, the Zionists were successful in fooling many westerners that Palestine is a land without people waiting a landless people. Previous Article
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