The quote from Barbara W. Tuchman's "Bible and Sword: England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour" highlights the environmental degradation that Palestine experienced over the centuries. This degradation, attributed to intensive Arab agriculture, transformed the region significantly, diminishing its once fertile landscape, often described as the land of milk and honey, to a less hospitable stony terrain suitable only for goats.

Such a shift not only reflects changes in agricultural practices but also emphasizes the long-term impacts of land management on the environment. It illustrates how continuous cultivation, without sustainable practices, can lead to soil erosion and other ecological challenges, altering the character of a region historically known for its richness and bounty.