The land of Israel\/Palestine is a region of contrasts, that is, in a single day a traveler can easily look out over an arid desert and a lively oasis, visit a fertile plain and a rocky plateau, or swim in a mineral rich sea and a refreshing lake. This is, of course, only to mention the contrasts in landscape; more importantly are the differences evident in the cultural matrix of Palestine. There will be sufficient time in the course to focus on cultural diversity but for now, we want to draw your attention to the main geographical regions of Israel in order to provide a firm foundation for future discussions. Begin your learning by reading two pages in a study by Eliav devoted to explaining the geographical structure of the region<\/strong> (pages 259 to the top of p. 261 can be found here<\/a>). Then watch the video clip below and match the visual presentation with the data obtained from Eliav’s piece. While watching, be mindful of the following yellow-question as you watch the video and keep the map below at hand so that you can follow along with the narration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n