Mala'eretz
The Mala'eretz Territory is an overseas territory of the Republic of Ashkenatza located on the continent of Keltia. A culturally rich region, its inhabitants are known as Mala'anshim and trace their ethnic lineage back to the Mala'anje of the Virtual Commonwealth of Cyberia.
Culture
The Mala'anshim and other Ashkenatzi peoples share much in common culturally due to the fact that the Mala'anshim speak their own dialect of Hebrew which in Ashkenatza proper is spoken by some sections of the elite and of course has religious significance to observant Ashkenatzim. The Mala'anje were viewed in a manner akin to the Canadian 'First Nations' and their culture has tended to be seen as 'aboriginal' as a result, though with obvious Semitic influences. Ashkenatzi cultural development of the Mala'eretz has tended to focus on the Cyberian history of the province which lends it much of its historical legitimacy, as can be seen in the colour scheme of the Territory's arms, which are not dissimilar to the flag of the Virtual Commonwealth of Cyberia. Investment from mainland Ashkenatza and the obvious political ties bring Yiddish and Ashkenazi culture to the Mala'eretz and many of the Mala'anshi elite have proficiency in Yiddish. The presence of numerous Asian-themed micronations on the southernmost island in Mala'eretz has also lead to a curious infusion of Chinamese culture into the Mala'anshim through ancestral connections. Pagodas, temples, and Chinamese architecture can still be found in the old Oriental quaters of the old towns of the Mala'eretz alongside Mala'anshi sites of historic significance.
The Mala'eretz's motto is Eretz Nehederet (ארץ נהדרת)- 'A Wonderful Country'). Although the Territory has little autonomy compared to the Mahoz HaSephardim there are numerous concessions in light of the cultural uniqueness of the Mala'anshi people and the region is often referred to as the Mala'anshi Nation- schools in the province teach Mala'anshi Hebrew and Ashkenatzi government funding to the arts has created a vibrant local arts and theatre culture (especially in the capital of Bet Mala) which adds to the region's unique cultural distinctiveness.
History
How Mala'eretz became a possession of Ashkenatza is a complex story. It begins in May 2010 when Amir Rabin, formerly of Cyberian fame, joined Ashkenatza and less than a month later had declared himself acting President of the Virtual Commonwealth of Cyberia, not without some opposition from other former Cyberian citizens, and when it became clear that Cyberia would not once more experience a surge of new activity declared the former Cyberian province of Mala independent as the Nation of Mala'eretz. By June 11th that same year Rabin had signed a Treaty dissolving the nation and formally annexing it to Ashkenatza. Rabin would later implement traditional Mala'anshi feudal politics into the regional government and declare himself Shofet, or Councillor, of the Mala'anshi people.
With the passing of Ashkenatza's Territorial Classification Bill through the Knesset later in 2010 it became clear that the Mala'eretz would not enjoy the same autonomy as the Mahoz HaSephardim- a Sephardic Ashkenatzi territory on Eura- as it was feared that the risk of Mala'anshi seccession given brief historic Mala'anshi independence could be an issue. Mala'eretz is also of immense tactical importance to Ashkenatza and is located along several important maritime trade routes, hence the success stories of former nations in the Southern Keltian region such as Chi Nam and overseas territories of New Britannia. Rabin's inactivity in 2010 as an Ashkenatzi citizen heralded a need for a new change in Mala'anshi politics (the Territory had been wholly neglected by the central government in Kolmenitzkiy for several months by this time) and in January 2011 Moshe Goltz of Ashkenatza became the Second Shofet of the Mala'eretz Territory, stressing the need to engage with the Mala'eretz's rich history and culture.
