The Open University (OU) has said it will no longer refer to “ancient Palestine” as the birthplace of the Virgin Mary in course material following complaints that the term risks “erasing Jewish history.”
UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) wrote to the university to address the use of the description in one of the OU’s humanities modules, which also includes a map of “ancient Palestine” and references the Aramaic language as widely spoken in that region.
According to The Telegraph, UKLFI expressed concerns that the terminology could mislead students, contribute to the erasure of Jewish historical identity, and create a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students at the OU.
Disputing the historical accuracy of the term, UKLFI provided evidence to the OU to argue that “Palestine” was not used to describe Judea, Samaria, and Galilee until approximately 135 AD. The group also warned the university of the possibility of legal proceedings.
In response to the complaint, the OU agreed to discontinue use of the contested term in new material and to amend its existing course material with notes that explain the controversial implications of the terminology.
“We welcome the Open University’s decision to stop using the term ‘ancient Palestine’ in its future teaching materials,” Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI, told The Telegraph. “Historical accuracy matters, particularly in a highly sensitive and politicised context where terminology is often misused to erase Jewish history and identity.
“Universities have a responsibility to ensure that their teaching is rigorous, neutral and inclusive, and that it does not create a hostile environment for Jewish or Israeli students.”
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