The Palestinian Nakba - Land Ownership Prior to the Nakba - Land Ownership

The Ottoman-era land ownership system was rooted in Islamic principles. Lands acquired without conflict remained under the possession of their original owners, contingent upon tax payments. However, lands acquired through war became the spoils of the conquerors, with a fifth of it allocated to the state treasury.

Land ownership comprised two categories: individual and state-owned lands. The Ottoman administration employed the "iltizam" system to ensure consistent revenue for the state treasury, a system that persisted until the Ottoman reforms in the early 19th century.

The "iltizam" system rested on several pillars: the state, feudal lords, civilians, military, and farmers. The state claimed ultimate land ownership rights, collecting taxes, fees, and tithes. Feudal lords held land based on their military and administrative roles, categorized into three types:

●    "Thimar" (Fruits)

●    "Ziamat" (Leadership)

●    "Khas" (Special)

Each type of feudal holding varied in annual income. For instance, "thimar" holders, known as "thimarji," typically earned approximately 20,000 aqchas annually, a relatively lucrative form of feudal holding.

"Ziamat" was granted to leaders with incomes ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 aqchas, primarily bestowed upon military commanders. These holdings sometimes extended across multiple regions or districts, not confined to a specific area or district.

In the early 17th century, Palestine comprised the districts of Nablus, Jerusalem, Gaza, and Safad, which included 28 districts classified as "ziamat" and 436 districts classified as "thimar," as detailed below:

The proprietors of these feudal holdings typically hailed from influential families. For instance, in Nablus in 1833, there were 57 feudal holdings, comprising 5 ziamats and 52 thimars. Farmers worked the land and reared livestock, fulfilling specific obligations to landowners, such as paying dues and taxes. Their land utilisation was contingent upon their labour and tax payments. In cases where a farmer had no heirs, the right of disposal reverted to the treasury or could be transferred by the feudal lord to other farmers for a specified sum.