Abstract
The superimposition of the Jordanian-Israeli boundary line, in 1949, on the western and northern fringes of the Samarian Highlands, created a frontier zone in which the geographical characteristics of the rural settlements underwent rapid changes. These changes reflected two main trends. One, spontaneous uncontrolled consequent processes-on the Jordanian side of the frontier — such as de-population, with the development of anomalies in the demographic structure of the remaining population, transformation in the pattern of agriculture and other economic activities, changes in site and layout of villages as well as in their spatial organization. Two, on the Israeli side, a carefully planned and strictly controlled new spatial pattern of rural settlement with rapid increase in population, intensification and expansion of economic activities and conspicuous changes in the landscape.
The examination and comparison of the effects of the newly formed border, with its extreme separation functions, under two contrasting political and administrative systems, presents an instructive lesson in Political Geography. So does the study of the geographical transformation processes which have been taking place in the same area since the removal, in 1967, of this boundary line.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ALEXANDER, L.M.: The Arab Israeli Boundary Problem. World Politics 6, 3 (1954)
AMIRAN, D.H.K.: The Pattern of Settlement in Palestine. Israeli Exploration Journal 3, 2–3 (1953)
BRAWER, M.: Recent Transformation in Geographical Characteristics in Lands of the Eastern Mediterranean. Geoscope 6, 1 (1975)
BRAWER, M.: Frontier Villages in Judea and Samaria. In: Judea and Samaria: Studies in Settlement Geography, Vol. 2, GROSSMAN, D. and SHMUELI, A., eds., Jerusalem (Hebrew) (1977)
BRUTZKUS, E.: Physical Planning in Israel. Jerusalem (1964)
BRUTZKUS, E.: Regional Policy in Israel. Jerusalem (1970)
COHEN, A.: Arab Border Villages in Israel. Manchester (1965)
DAYAN, M.: Israel's Border and Security Problems. Foreign Affairs 33, 2 (1965)
EFRAT, E.: Judea and Samaria: Guidelines for Regional and Physical Planning. Jerusalem. (Hebrew with English summary) (1970)
GROSSMAN, G. and SHMUELI, A.: Judea and Samaria: Studies in Settlement Geography. Jerusalem (Hebrew) (1977)
JONES, S.B.: Boundary Making. Washington (1945)
KANOVSKY, H.: Economic Development of Jordan. Tel Aviv (1974)
KARMON, Y.: The Influence of the “Green Line” on Two Neighboring Arab Villages. In: Judea and Samaria: Studies in Settlement Geography. GROSSMAN, D. and SHMUEILI, A. eds., Jerusalem (Hebrew) (1977)
KATZIR, Y.: Agriculture in Judea and Samaria. In: Judea and Samaria: Studies in Settlement Geography. GROSSMAN, D. and SHMUELI, A., eds., Jerusalem (Hebrew) (1977)
KENDAL, H.: Village Development in Palestine During the British Mandate. London (1949)
KRISTOF, L.K.D.: The Nature of Frontiers and Boundaries. Annals of the Assoc. of American Geographers 49 (1959)
SMITH, S.G.: The Boundaries and Population Problems of Israel. Geography 37 (1952)
WILSON, C.T.: Peasant Life in the Holy Land. London (1900)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brawer, M. The impact of boundaries on patterns of rural settlement: The case of Samaria (Israel). GeoJournal 2, 539–547 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00208593
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00208593