Empowerment and Protection - Stories of Human Security Oct. 2014 | Page 48

West Bank: Area C Map “My children can’t imagine that Palestine is Haifa, Jaffa, Akka, Jerusalem, West Bank, ...“ United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs occupied Palestinian n i t e d N a t i o n s U territory Border International Border Green Line 48 stories of Human Security | Palestine Barrier Area (A), (B) Area (A), (B) Area C & Nature Reserves Area C & Nature Reserves of Palestinian society is reflected in the ubiquitousness of small arms, and the spilling over of tensions and frustrations into violent fights. This cuts across communities and across community groups as the tribal loyalties still come into play and quickly exacerbate minor quarrels. Internal political division is thus exacerbated by the physical and psychological effects of the occupation. Ramallah Ramallah No Man's Land Jericho No Man's Land ine eL tic e) mis Lin Ar n 49 ree 19 (G “ eople have just P started to surrender.” East Jerusalem Jericho East Jerusalem a Bethlehem Bethlehem United Nations Office for the Coordinatio occupied Palestinian territory Hebron Hebron Border Geographical, political and societal fragmentation An interconnecting threat that cuts across all Palestinian society is increasing fragmentation, which is part of a vicious cycle of social disintegration, polarisation and the easy use of violence. The geographic fragmentation caused by the occupation is evident in the isolation of Jerusalem, the severance and siege of the Gaza Strip, the gigantic complex of the separation walls throughout the West Bank along with the more than 450 military checkpoints. In Gaza, societal solidarity is seen to have disintegrated totally. Internal divisions in Palestinian politics have rent divisions in society at all levels – from politicians to neighbours who were once friends but who now, resulting from different political affiliations, do not communicate. Along with the plethora of Palestinian security services and the internal divisions, the militarisation This fragmentation is not along religious or gender lines; for instance, the Christian minority has always been integrated, and Palestinians have been one people. Nevertheless, recent emigration of Christians has been high, due to the lack of economic opportunities, and the overall lack of security. These, coupled with strong networks abroad, for instance, in Latin America, and more recently, fears from the spread of Islamic fundamentalism, have led many Christian Palestinians to leave. d " White phosphorus landing on skin can burn deep through muscle and into the bone, continuing to burn unless deprived of oxygen." Its use in civilian areas is prohibited under international humanitarian law – see Amnesty International. “Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories: Israel’s use of white phosphorus against Gaza civilians ‘clear and undeniable’”. 19 January 2009. http://www.amnesty.org 0 Kilometers 2.5 5 10 U n i t e d N a t i o n s O f f i c e f o Internationaleodo rN a n ia t n o n O o f i c e mo rn it thaer i C o oA d fi a ia tsi o r t U e i C Border i t o i s h n t d f Hu f a an rf n r Green Line occupied Palestinian territoryoccupied Palestinian territory 0 Israeli Unilaterally Declared 10 Municipal Area of Jerusalem Kilometers 2.5 5 February 2011 Border Barrier Border International Border Green Line Israeli Unilaterally Declared Municipal Area of Jerusalem Tulkarm Constructed / Under International Border Construction Planned Green Line Jenin Municipal Area of Jerusalem Area (A), (B) Qalqiliya Area C & Nature Reserves Barrier Note: This map does not feature Gaza Constructed / Under Construction Planned Oslo Agreement ¥ Oslo Agreement Israeli Unilaterally Declared Barrier Tubas Tulkarm Constructed / Under Construction Planned Tulkarm Sal Oslo Agreement Area (A), (B) Area (A), (B) Area C & Nature Reserves Qalqiliya Area C & Nature Reserves Nablus Community and community identity are under constant threat from the occupation. This was strongly reflected by respondents in Jerusalem, where the residence permit system drives people Salfit out of the city and basic public services have been absorbed into the Israeli system. In the historic Old Ramallah City of Jerusalem, whole neighbourhoods have been taken over and the inhabitants moved, as in Nodestroyed in June Man's the Moroccan quarter, which was Land 1967. Residents are threatened so much that the community and its identity are destroyed.e e Lin The result at the local level is a general sense ofmisnticLeine) r 9A e 94 (Gre disempowerment and frustration, especially 1among the youth. The realities of the occupation have had a profound impact on people’s sense of dignity. Qalqiliya Ram Sal No Man's No Man's Land Land River Jordan Another reason for the lack of social solidarity – a major issue in both Jerusalem and the West Bank – is the feeling that people can no longer afford to concern themselves with the problems of others, as they have so many themselves. People are living day by day, surviving without being able to think of the future, or how to improve their situation. Because people feel that there is no hope, there is “no motivation other than just living another day." As one participant from the West Bank said – or worse, to quote from Gaza – "they just want to forget and to escape even if it means death." In’am, an NGO employee in Gaza, reflects on the psychological effects of the occupation: “There is despair and depression, because people are insecure, their rights have been stolen, and there is no one to turn to. People have just started to surrender.” Dr Ismael Abu Zaid a psychologist originally from Gaza, says, “There are pressures everywhere, all over, and there are only two ways to deal with such poverty; to turn to religion or to turn to drugs. If you go to the mosque and pray you may get extra food.” River Jordan Salfit Salfit ine eL tic e) mis Lin Ar n 49 Gree 19 ( Health concerns are also closely linked with the armed conflict and with environmental security. Because of the large amounts of phosphorus that were used in bombs during the attack on Gaza by Israel in 2008 and 2009, the past five years has seen a s