The protests of the last two months in Israel have been directed at a right-wing government that is not only intent on executing judicial reform that would further curtail the rights of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, but also openly spews racist rhetoric against them. So why are these Palestinians not joining in the protest against the judicial reform?
While one might expect the reason to be that they feel no connection to Israel, a brief survey and series of in-depth interviews conducted in East Jerusalem during March 8-11, 2023 yielded three results indicating that the reality is slightly different, and much more nuanced:
1. Many Palestinians in East Jerusalem do appear to be following the government's efforts at judicial reform and the public protests against it in Israel.
2. Second, those Palestinians in East Jerusalem that are following the protests were segmented by demographic characteristics. They are more educated, wealthier and younger – or some combination of the three.
3. Finally, those Palestinians who were surveyed in East Jerusalem emphasized that they are not participating in the protests against the judicial reform because it would represent their support of a legal system that has suppressed them.
In short, the results of the survey and interviews suggest that the impressions that East Jerusalem Palestinians have of Israel may not necessarily be those that are assumed by most Israelis. And if Israel truly wishes to see Jerusalem as a united city in in the State, it needs to emphasize relating to all of its residents – and in particular those with Israeli citizenship – in a much more nuanced manner.
The protests of the last two months in Israel have been directed at a right-wing government that is not only intent on executing judicial reform that would further curtail the rights of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, but also openly spews racist rhetoric against them. So why are these Palestinians not joining in the protest against the judicial reform?
While one might expect the reason to be that they feel no connection to Israel, a brief survey and series of in-depth interviews conducted in East Jerusalem during March 8-11, 2023 yielded three results indicating that the reality is slightly different, and much more nuanced:
1. Many Palestinians in East Jerusalem do appear to be following the government's efforts at judicial reform and the public protests against it in Israel.
2. Second, those Palestinians in East Jerusalem that are following the protests were segmented by demographic characteristics. They are more educated, wealthier and younger – or some combination of the three.
3. Finally, those Palestinians who were surveyed in East Jerusalem emphasized that they are not participating in the protests against the judicial reform because it would represent their support of a legal system that has suppressed them.
In short, the results of the survey and interviews suggest that the impressions that East Jerusalem Palestinians have of Israel may not necessarily be those that are assumed by most Israelis. And if Israel truly wishes to see Jerusalem as a united city in in the State, it needs to emphasize relating to all of its residents – and in particular those with Israeli citizenship – in a much more nuanced manner.