"Jewish and Palestinian nationalism are virtually contemporaneous, and grew out of the disruptions that created new national movements from the ruins of the old empires / i"

The quote by Jack Schwartz recommends that both Jewish and Palestinian nationalism emerged around the exact same historic period and were responses to bigger geopolitical shifts, especially the collapse of old empires. This interpretation can be unpacked in several methods.

First, the term "practically coexisting" indicates that both nationalist movements established around the same time. Historically, this points to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by the decrease of empires such as the Ottoman Empire, which had long controlled parts of the Middle East, consisting of the region of Palestine. As these empires were taken apart or deteriorated, there was a vacuum that facilitated the increase of nationalist motions. For Jewish nationalism, or Zionism, the late 19th century saw the start of a political motion aimed at establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine, partly as a response to anti-Semitic beliefs in Europe and the desire for self-determination.

Likewise, Palestinian nationalism started to take shape in reaction to the changing political landscape and the growing Zionist movement, which was seen as a threat to the Arab population's claim to the land. Palestinian nationalism intensified in the early 20th century as local populations sought to assert their identity and rights versus both colonial rule and Jewish migration.

The phrase "grew out of the disturbances" describes the political, social, and economic turmoils of the time, which interrupted traditional power structures and paved the way for new national identities. The dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after World War I was a considerable aspect, as it ended centuries of administration over the Middle East and led to the creation of new political entities under the required system, notably the British Mandate of Palestine.

Thus, Schwartz is highlighting how both nationalisms arose not in seclusion but as part of a more comprehensive pattern of nationalist movements worldwide, spurred by the decrease of imperial rule and the look for self-determination in a quickly altering world. Understanding this context is essential to understanding the intricacies and historical roots of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, as both stories are deeply linked with the tradition of empire and the quest for national identity.