Israel’s violations of Palestinian culture in East Jerusalem

While Israel has been accused of war crimes and alleged genocidal intentions in Gaza, as well as enacting a harsh and repressive military policy against Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, East Jerusalem has become a focal point for ongoing Israeli cultural violations affecting Palestinians. These actions in the hoped-for capital of Palestine have sparked international concern, as they threaten the preservation of Palestinian identity and heritage in the area.

Jerusalem, the cradle of the three Abrahamic religions, has long been a cultural and religious hub for Palestinians. It is home to highly respected cultural institutions, artists and scholars. While Israel, which annexed East Jerusalem following its occupation in 1967, initially gave its residents a wide range of cultural space, the Oslo process that began in 1993 caused a major Israeli reversal.

In addition to the huge concrete wall Israel erected around the city, barring the rest of the West Bankers open access to the city, it has also cracked down on various symbols of cultural expression. Using the false claim of connectivity to the Palestinian national center in Ramallah, Israeli policies have increasingly restricted Palestinian cultural activities, often under the guise of security concerns. Palestinian cultural events have routinely faced disruption. The Israeli authorities have imposed restrictions on festivals, performances and artistic gatherings, severely limiting the ability of Palestinians to celebrate and preserve their cultural identity.

Palestinian cultural institutions in East Jerusalem have experienced frequent raids and closures. In June 2013, Israel ordered the cancellation of a children’s puppet festival at a Palestinian theater in East Jerusalem, claiming the eight-day event had been unlawfully sponsored by the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian National Theatre, also known as El-Hakawati Theatre, had been running an annual festival for children continuously for 18 years. It was previously barred by a military order based on the 1945 British Emergency Regulations.

Similar orders have been issued to stop what Israel considers national events, or if Tel Aviv believes that the Ramallah-based Palestinian government is involved in either funding, sponsoring or giving its blessing to such events. Using draconian decades-old laws inherited from the time of the British mandate, Israel has ordered the stoppage of events such as art exhibitions, music festivals and even the screening of a film about drug abuse in Jerusalem and an event to celebrate high school students’ accomplishments.

More recently, this month’s raid on the Educational Bookshop and its owners’ arrest illustrate the ongoing Israeli attempts to suppress intellectual freedom by confiscating literature deemed provocative. As Nathan Thrall, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author, commented regarding the bookstore incident: “To have a country ban books with the word Palestine in them is an outrage.”

Palestinian Minister of Culture Emad Hamdan emphasized the impact of the bookshop raid. “This attack is part of a systematic policy aimed at destroying the Palestinian cultural and educational structure in Jerusalem. These actions not only hinder cultural expression but also aim to fragment Palestinian society within Jerusalem,” he said.

Cultural leaders and intellectuals frequently face harassment and arrest. These acts are perceived as attempts to silence influential voices advocating for Palestinian rights and cultural preservation. As writer and cultural consultant Rania Masri noted: “The suppression of cultural expression is not just a violation of rights; it is an attack on the very fabric of Palestinian identity.” Such measures contribute to a climate of fear and self-censorship, discouraging public expressions of Palestinian identity.

Israeli policies have increasingly restricted Palestinian cultural activities, often under the guise of security concerns

The cultural violations in East Jerusalem have drawn international condemnation from human rights organizations, diplomats and academics. Many argue that these actions violate international laws protecting cultural rights and heritage. The organization Index on Censorship called this month’s arrest of the booksellers a “brazen attack on freedom of expression.” It called for immediate action to halt the oppressive measures and advocate for the protection of Palestinian cultural and intellectual freedom.

Despite these adversities, Palestinians in East Jerusalem are striving to preserve their cultural heritage. Community organizations, artists and intellectuals continue to find innovative ways to express their identity, often supported by international solidarity movements. As celebrated Palestinian musician Omar Kamal remarked: “In the face of oppression, our art becomes a powerful declaration of our existence.”

The ongoing cultural violations against Palestinians in East Jerusalem highlight a significant challenge: the preservation of a community’s identity in the face of systemic suppression. While the dream of an independent Palestinian state continues to be quashed by Israeli actions, the artist community has been a major source of hope. Addressing these issues is essential not only for the sake of cultural heritage, but also for ensuring that fundamental human rights and freedoms are upheld.

Such measures contribute to a climate of fear and self-censorship, discouraging public expressions of Palestinian identity

As the international community continues to watch, the hope remains that renewed efforts will advocate for a more just and culturally inclusive future for all of Palestine, as well as for its people and its proposed capital, East Jerusalem.

- Daoud Kuttab is an award-winning Palestinian journalist and former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University. He is the author of “State of Palestine NOW: Practical and logical arguments for the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.” X: @daoudkuttab