---

Since the Middle Eastern conflict has always been about the territory, the ´land´ has become a highly imagined and emotionally charged element is both Palestinian and Israeli literature. The realistic or mystified portrayals that Palestinian and Israeli authors employ illustrate a (changing) relation with their homeland. The fighting over the territory has thus turned nature in a major politicised idea that is(ab)used in order to support opposing governmental ideologies. A gendered representation of the land has allowed generations of inhabitants to identify with their homeland yet changing political realities have affected this view. The varying representations parallel the political developments and thus represent sentiments of either failure or success on both sides. Different (modern) genres and authors from both ends of the power spectrum provide a vast variety of images and approaches when portraying their relationship with the land. Yet, is the textual representation of nature necessarily always biased or are there forms of discourse that allow a more reconciliatory political approach and representation of nature?

---

Kim Heuskin studied English and American Literature (BA) and Postcolonial Studies (MA) at the University of Kent UK. She is an English teacher in Luxembourg.

---