Identity, Nationalism, and Placenames: Zionist Efforts to Preserve the Original Local Hebrew Names in Official Publications of the Mandate Government of Palestine

Placenames promote identification and connection, and serve the ideological needs of those who give the names. In this context, 1examine Zionist efforts during the British mandate in Palestine to preserve the original Hebrew names found in the Bible and other ancient sources as placenames in Palestine in the documents, correspondence, and official signs of the mandate government. The Zionists gave to placenames in Palestine a special role for advancing their ideological-national goals and for maintaining a connection between the Jews in Palestine and the diaspora with their historical homeland. I also examine the British attitude to these Zionist efforts and conclude that this attitude was related to Britain's overall approach to the issue of Palestine.