ABSTRACT
Ottoman period is a vast and varied topic. 1 This essay does not attempt a comprehensive overview, nor does it provide the outline for such a project. 2 Rather, it seeks to initiate a debate by making a number of tentative arguments in response to the following question: What are the underlying ideological assumptions and historical contingencies that have determined the contours of inquiry into the modern history of Palestine and the Palestinians, and what are the necessary first steps towards constructing an alternative history?
