Evaluation of the Ottoman Empire's Responses to Zionist Jewish Colonization in Palestine: Continuity and Ruptures (1850-1917)

This research examines the persistent opposition of the Ottoman Empire to Jewish settlement in Palestine from 1850 to 1917. Efforts by Jews to settle in Palestine emerged as one of the most significant agenda items in the late stages of the empire. Jews from Iran, Russia, the United States, Romania, and other European nations employed illegal means to come and establish themselves in Palestinian territory. The majority of them sought to settle in Palestine. Jews used various strategies to acquire land and secure their position in Palestine. The formation of organizations led by Zionist Jews and the creation of a narrative portraying the Palestinian lands as the so-called promised land contributed significantly to this increase. The research argues that in response to the motivations of the Jews settling in Palestine, the Ottoman Empire took measures against Jewish colonization in the region. However, they sometimes encountered disruptions or interruptions. The primary research sources are documents from the Presidential Ottoman Archive and the parliamentary minutes journals. The temporal and spatial boundaries of the research cover the period from the beginning of colonization activities in Palestine until the withdrawal of the Ottoman Empire from Jerusalem in 1917.