East Jerusalem after the 1967 Occupation: Policies of Annexation and Marginal Integration Amidst Extermination and Expulsion
Date
2025-01
Authors
Walid Salem
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Al-Quds University
Abstract
This study traces the socio-economic policies imposed by the Israeli occupation on Jerusalem, examining them across three distinct phases. The first phase, spanning from the aftermath of the 1967 war until 2001, saw the establishment and implementation of evacuation policies. During this period, what remained of East Jerusalem was annexed into Israeli institutions and economy, severing its ties with Palestinian society and economy. The occupation worked to create a society within a society, and an economy replacing another. Contrary to the claim that these policies are a recent development, the paper argues that the measures taken post-1967 were instrumental in laying the foundation for these practices. This builds on prior studies, such as those by Azm (2018, 2019) and Mahfouz (2019), which also focus on the occupation’s policies in recent years.
The second phase marked a shift from evacuation and annexation to the marginal integration of East Jerusalem into the Israeli economy. This period, beginning in 2001 with the construction of the separation wall and the closure of Palestinian institutions in the city, continued the process of evacuation. The economic integration of Palestinian workers—both white and blue-collar—into lower-tier roles within the Israeli labor market and the expanding settlement economy became a key focus. The aim was to reduce the disparities between settlers living in East Jerusalem and Israelis inside Israel. At the same time, dual social policies were applied to Palestinians, including identity revocation, subjugation to Israeli institutions, and attempts to distort their national identity. There was also an effort to foster the illusion of a distinct «Jerusalemite» identity, separate from Palestinian identity, for some residents.
This second phase laid the groundwork for the third phase, characterized by two divergent strategies. The first strategy extended the socio-economic engineering of previous policies but sought to decisively shift Palestinians from mere coexistence in Jerusalem to declaring loyalty to the state and its policies. The second strategy, however, argues that earlier socio-economic measures failed to subdue Palestinians, who continued to resist Israeli rule. This approach advocates for a harsher stance, whereby Palestinians are forced to submit to Israeli authority, their national demands crushed. Those who comply would be relegated to low-status sectors in the Israeli economy, while those who resist must either leave, declare war, or face death. This approach reflects the broader vision outlined in the Pipes and Smotrich plan, which targets all Palestinians, not just Jerusalemites. The relevance of this paper lies in its examination of the overt socio-economic policies practiced by the occupation in recent years. Finally, the paper explores Palestinian responses to these policies and offers insights into the possible future trajectories, given the ongoing developments on the ground.