LEVANT REGION – GEOGRAPHY

News: 3 men are holding the Levant hostage

 

What's in the news?

       As it stands, the future course of events in the Middle East is largely dependent on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. But for peace to have a chance, all three will have to recognize they can’t be part of this future — if the guns are to fall silent, their time is up.

 

Levant:

       Levant, originally meant ‘the East’ or ‘Mediterranean lands east of Italy’.

       It is borrowed from the French levant ‘rising’, referring to the rising of the sun in the east, or the point where the sun rises.

 

Countries in Levant:

       Historically, the region along the eastern Mediterranean shores, roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and certain adjacent areas.

 

Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage:

       The Levant is also known for its rich history and cultural heritage.

       The region has been home to several ancient civilizations, including the Phoenicians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and British.

       The region is also home to several ancient cities, including Jerusalem, Damascus, Beirut, and Amman, which are steeped in history and culture.

       The region is also home to several religious sites that are considered sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims.