# What is the difference between Israel, Zion and Palestine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-israel-zion-and-palestine/152040 "2003-02-01T03:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-israel-zion-and-palestine/152040/1 "2003-02-01T03:43:46Z")
Can someone please explain the distinction between (among?) the terms “Israel,” “Zion,” and “Palestine”? Of course I understand that the term “Israel” refers to the modern nation of Israel. But what is the difference between “Israel” and “Palestine”? Is Palestine the older name for the region? How old is the term Israel? Was it used before this century? (I understand that it is a Hebrew word, so, more precisely, I guess my question is, was the word used to refer to the region before the founding of the modern state of Israel?) What about “Zion”? I believe that is a fairly old word, but is it the name of a particular region? Is the term synonomous with either “Israel” of “Palestine”? Constantine ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-israel-zion-and-palestine/152040/2 "2003-02-01T04:10:31Z")
This was double posted, so I’m closing this one. Go to [What is the difference between Israel, Zion, and Palestine?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=159983)