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The article describes Jewish communities’ stances in relation to Zionist movements in France and in territories administered by France that were primarily populated by Muslims. It considers the actions of North Africa Jews in the Zionist movement, particularly during the Second World War, and how the war influenced Zionism. The Jewish communities in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia had different statuses influenced by and mirrored in the various colonial administrations, local authorities, and populations. Besides, those differences related to their degree of involvement with Zionism, which was anything but homogeneous and ranged from strong support to a lack of interest. Based on material collected from various archives (mainly Yad Vashem and the Central Zionist Archives), the article uses a selection of testimonies that describe the diversity of North African Jewish communities and their different levels of engagement with Zionist activities. In this way, the stories of these actors and witnesses will directly reveal the heterogeneous worlds of Judaism and Zionism in North Africa. The article also confirms the diversity of the French Empire despite the shared concept of assimilation and the impact of the colonial administration, that was organized in different ways depending on the local situation and on social relations in North African societies.

Rapid urbanization poses significant challenges that can transform the physical and socio-economic environment of a city. Oman, a coastal country, has experienced a rapid increase in urbanization over the past decades. As statistical data show, the population increased significantly from 1955 to 2023, ranging from 2.5 % to 88 %. Similarly, the population in Al Buraimi Governorate has doubled since 1993, with an estimated population of 121,802 (NCSI, 2021) Al Buraimi City facing significant challenges. The city’s rapid growth in population burdening its infrastructure, traffic, municipal, education and public health capacity. This paper investigates the transformation of Land Use (LU) / Land Cover (LC) change from 2003 to 2023 in relation to population growth, employing both spatial and non-spatial methods to analyze the urban sprawl. The study focuses on the four main objectives: 1. To identify distinct types of sprawls (e.g., continuous, leapfrog, ribbon) and their spatial distribution proximity areas. 2. To examine the factors driving urban sprawl, including population growth, industrial development, socio-economic and educational opportunities. 3. To assess LU/LC changes over the study period using geospatial methods. 4. To forecast urban sprawl pattern using statistical models, providing insights into potential future developments. Given the limited understanding of urban sprawl in the study area, this research aims to address the complex challenges of urbanization and recommends sustainable resource development strategies. The results show that between 2003 to 2023, built-up areas increase from 13.14 % to 14.88 %, roads and other areas from 9.92 % to 11.23 % and vegetation cover decline from 3.93 % to 3.37%. Population, road and built-up area densities show significant increase. The population density rose from 27.72 % to 44.12 %, road density surged from 13.86 % to 47.04 %, built-up area density grew from 25.68 % to 41.92 %. Depending on the forecast results of urban sprawl, the low sprawl (45 %-55 %) with higher density and less probability, medium sprawl (55 %-65 %) with moderate expansion probability, high sprawl (65 %-75 %) with increased probability of expansion and very high sprawl (> 75 %) with lower density, high probability of expansion. The areas with a high population, road or built-up area density are less likely to sprawl in the city of Al Burami. Additionally, three sprawl patterns, continuous, leapfrog and ribbon pattern in the study area were identified, helping in further solutions to urbanization.

تشهد مدينة مدنين بالجنوب الشرقي التونسي منذ ترقيتها الى مركز ولاية سنة 1956 تحولات مهمة، تمثلت  في نمو ديمغرافي سريع، وتوسع مجالي، وتدعم في انشطتها الاقتصادية خاصة على مستوع قطاعي الصناعة و الخدمات العمومية، وتدعم نشاط التجارة الموازية منذ سنة 1988 مما ساهم في توسيع نفوذها وتنويع علاقاتها. يتناول هذا العمل دارسة مكونات الدينامية الحضرية بمدينة مدنين وعواملها بتحليل مراحل النمو الديمغرافي، ومكانتها ضمن التراتب الحضري الاقليمي، ومراحل توسعها المجالي، وتدعم أنشطتها الاقتصادية. الكلمات المفاتيح: مدنين - نمو حضري- دينامية حضرية - التسلسل الهرمي - الجنوب الشرقي التونسي

This fresh study thoroughly re-casts the unrecognised Samad Late Iron Age (SLIA) and its archaeological context in the 600 years which flank the year 0 CE, providing valuable insights into the significance and complexities of this enigmatic era. Through meticulous research of archaeological sites and recent discoveries, the authors present an in-depth understanding of the SLIA. A particular focus is given to examining the relationship between the SLIA assemblage and that of the Mleiha/PIR, parsing the cultural connections between these separate yet intertwined archaeological phenomena. By investigating diverse topics such as burial practices, pottery, small finds, trade networks and architecture, this work aims to offer a comprehensive grasp of the material culture and historical scene of the centuries preceding the rise of Islam. With its contribution to the ongoing academic discourse on the archaeology of south-eastern Arabia, this book fills a niche for scholars and enthusiasts seeking archaeological knowledge about this fascinating Arabian period.

Djerba Island, which had been a refuge for famous pirates since the second half of the 16th century, had an important position for the Mediterranean. Especially when Turgut Pasha, the Beylerbeyi of Tripolitania, took Djerba Island under his control, the Christian world's interest in the island increased. The Crusader troops formed to capture Djerba managed to capture the island and built a castle on the island despite the disagreement between the commanders, bad weather conditions, epidemics and deserters. Upon this news, the Ottoman navy under the command of Piyale Pasha moved towards the island of Djerba. The Ottoman fleet, which was outnumbered, defeated the Crusader fleet off the coast of Djerba. While some of the Crusaders fled, some of them took refuge in the castle of Djerba. The Crusaders were besieged by sea and land for two months. The Ottoman navy forced the Crusaders to surrender by attacking the wells in the castle. In return for the surrender of the Crusaders, their lives were spared and the island of Djerba was annexed to Tripolitania under the Ottoman Empire. This study focuses on the conquest of Djerba by the Ottoman navy, which was an important centre of refuge for Turkish pirates and the domination of the Central Mediterranean.

Marine shells containing greenish or blackish pigments are frequently found at pre-Islamic archaeological sites in Southeast Arabia and are generally interpreted as ancient eye makeup, representing a long-standing tradition that continues to the present day. While these ‘cosmetic’ shells are primarily found in funerary contexts, their presence in residential areas suggests broader use within the community. Although relatively abundant, these shells have undergone limited chemical and mineralogical analysis, hindering a deeper understanding of their composition and production. This study presents the first archaeometric results from six marine shells excavated at Bronze and Iron Age sites in the Salūt and Bisya oasis (Sultanate of Oman). Chemical analyses reveal copper- and manganese-bearing minerals as the primary components of the greenish and blackish pigments, respectively. The presence of these minerals near the Salūt oasis suggests local pigment sources. This study represents the first step in a broader analytical programme aimed at the characterisation of samples from other archaeological sites of Southeast Arabia spanning over a wider chronological time frame.

هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تحليل المقدمات التاريخية لمعركة النهروان 38هـ/ 658م، وتداعياتها على البنية السياسية والفكرية للمجتمع الإسلامي المبكر؛ مع تقديم قراءة جديدة تعتمد إلى مصادر متنوعة، بما فيها المصادر الإباضية التي أُهمِلَت في دراسات سابقة. تكمُن أهمية هذه الدراسة في الكشف عن جذور النزاعات السياسية والفكرية التي شَهِدَها الإسلام المبكر، وانعكاساتها على تشكيل المفاهيم المتعلقة بالشرعية السياسية وطاعة الحاكم، فضلًا عن فهمِ تداعياتها على الواقع العربي والإسلامي المعاصر، كونِها تُسَلِّطُ الضوء على واحدة من أكثر المراحل تعقيدًا وحسَّاسيَّةً في التاريخ الإسلامي. فمن خلال دراسة معركة النَّهروان؛ يمكن فهمُ الجذور الأولى للنزاعات السياسية والفكرية التي ظهرت في الإسلام المبكر، ومدى تأثيرها في ظهور ما عُرِفَ "الفِرَق الإسلامية" اعتمدت هذه الدراسة المنهجَ التاريخي التحليلي، من خلال تتبُّع الروايات التاريخية ومقارنتها نقديًّا؛ مع التركيز على تجاوز التَّحيُّز الأيديولوجي ودمج وجهات نظر المصادر المختلفة. ومن أبرز ما توصلت إليه هذه الدراسة من نتائج أنَّ معركة النَّهروان مثَّلت تحوًّلًا جوهريًّا في علاقة السُّلطة بالمعارضة، وأسهمت في ترسيخ الانقسامات الفكرية والسياسية، وأكدت ضرورة الاعتماد إلى مصادر متعددة لتقديم رُؤية شاملة للأحداث.الكلمات المفتاحية: النَّهروان؛ صِفِّين؛ السُّنَّة؛ الشِّيعة؛ الإباضية.

The Great Man-Made River Project (GMMRP) was implemented to address Libya’s water scarcity problem by utilizing groundwater instead of desalination due to cost, capacity expansion, and operational considerations. The GMMRP aimed to produce and transport 6.4 million cubic meters of groundwater daily to meet the water demands of northern Libyan urban settlements for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use. The GMMRP has achieved its objectives of improving the quality of life for residents, alleviating pressure on coastal aquifers, and promoting sustainable development, without any adverse environmental impacts. However, the GMMRP has faced significant challenges following the 2011 Libyan civil war. These include a decline in financial resources due to political conflicts, lower oil production and prices, and direct and indirect economic losses from damage caused by armed conflict and lack of security. Additionally, the GMMRP faces a considerable discrepancy between the cost of water production and the price charged to consumers, insufficient revenue generation, and an inability to import critical spare parts and materials for maintenance operations. Other challenges include unclear criteria for water allocation, incomplete information to estimate the costs of development investment plans, frequent electricity supply interruptions, and infrastructure issues. Furthermore, to ensure the project’s sustainability, its recommended to develop a sustainable financial plan, improve billing and collection processes, priorities infrastructure maintenance, and develop effective monitoring and inspection systems. Also, it suggested creating a comprehensive national strategy for managing water resources and prioritizing water supplies for urban, industrial, and agricultural uses. The integration of planning for irrigation water management, investing in treated wastewater, and transparently allocating water among users based on economic, technical, social, and environmental standards are also recommended. Additionally, strengthening security measures, implementing effective pollution control measures, and promoting water-saving technologies and practices. Overall, the GMMRP has been successful in providing a solution to Libya’s water scarcity problem. Still, there is a need for concerted efforts to address the challenges it faces to ensure its sustainability.