A Clear, Source-Rich Explainer That Debunks the Russia Myth

The name “Palestine” (Greek/Latin Palaestina) is ancient — long before modern Russia or the Soviet Union.

It derives from the Greek/Latin adaptation of Philistia (the land of the Philistines) and was used in antiquity.

The Romans officially renamed Judea Syria Palaestina after the Bar Kokhba revolt in the 2nd century CE.

The Soviet Union later supported Palestinian political movements in the 20th century, but it did not invent the name or the identity.

Why This Matters

A popular myth online claims: “Russia (or the USSR) created the name ‘Palestine’ and even invented Palestinian nationalism, then brought Arafat.”

The historical record shows otherwise. Names and identities evolved over centuries.

Here is the evidence.

Timeline of the Name

1. Ancient Roots — Philistia → Palaestina

The name is linked to the Philistines, an Iron-Age people who lived on the southern coastal plain.

Greek and later Roman writers used Palaestina to refer to parts of the region.

2. Roman Period — Syria Palaestina (2nd Century CE)

After the Bar Kokhba revolt (132–136 CE), the Romans renamed Judea as Syria Palaestina.

This renaming is attested in Roman and early Christian sources such as Cassius Dio and Eusebius.

3. Byzantine → Early Islamic → Ottoman Periods

Over the centuries, the territory was divided into various administrative units.

European maps and travelers still referred to the area as “Palestine.”

4. 20th Century — British Mandate

The League of Nations Mandate for Palestine (1920) made the term official in passports, stamps, and administration.

5. Post-1940s — Rise of a Modern Palestinian Identity

Palestinian identity developed in the mid-20th century.

The Soviet Union supported some Palestinian organizations during the Cold War, but did not create the name.

6. Yasser Arafat

Yasser Arafat was born in 1929 in Cairo to a Palestinian family and became a leader of the PLO.

He was not “imported” by the USSR, although the USSR later supported the PLO.

Common Questions

Did Russia or the USSR create the name “Palestine”?

No. The name is ancient, documented long before modern Russia existed.

Was the name used to erase Jewish ties to the land?

Romans likely renamed the province after the revolt as part of imperial policy.

That event is ancient and separate from modern politics.

Did the British invent the name?

No. The British Mandate formalized an existing name.

Did the USSR bring Arafat?

No. Arafat’s political path developed in the Arab world; Soviet support came later.

Key Historical Sources

League of Nations — Mandate for Palestine (1922) Britannica: Philistine People Britannica: Roman Palestine / Syria Palaestina Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History — mentions Aelia Capitolina PDF Study — Soviet Relations with the PLO Nobel Prize Bio — Yasser Arafat

Conclusion

The name “Palestine” is rooted in antiquity, not in modern Russian or Soviet policy.

While the USSR influenced Middle-Eastern politics in the 20th century, it did not invent the name nor the identity.

History shows that extraordinary claims — such as “Russia created ‘Palestine’” — require evidence, and none exists for this myth.

Suggested Hashtags

#HistoryExplained #Palestine #AncientHistory #DebunkingMyths #SyriaPalaestina