The Rise and Fall of Arab Jerusalem

by Hillel Cohen

This book examines Palestinian politics in Jerusalem since 1967, and in particular since the outbreak of the second Intifada in September 2000, focusing on the city’s decline as an Arab city and the identity crisis among the Jerusalemite Palestinians. Principally concerned with Palestinian politics and how they have evolved over time from the grass roots upwards, it covers issues such as the separation wall, military activity and terror, planning regulations, the joint Jewish-Arab struggle against the occupation, and efforts to remove Palestinians from the city. Drawing upon conversations with hundreds of Palestinians – Islamists, nationalists, collaborationists, and a-political people – as well as upon military courts files and Palestinian writings, Hillel Cohen tells the story of the failure of the Palestinian struggle in Jerusalem in both its political and military dimensions. He points at the lack of leadership and at the identity crisis among Palestinian Jerusalemites which were created by Israeli policies (the separation wall, the closure of Palestinian institutions) and Palestinian faults (the exclusion of Jerusalem from the Palestinian Authority in Oslo Agreements, or the suicide attacks in the second Intifada). Providing a broad overview of the contemporary situation and political relations both inside the Palestinian community and with the Israeli authorities, the book gives a unique insight into Palestinians' views, political behaviour, and daily life in Israel's capital. As such, it is an important addition to the literature on Palestinian politics, Jewish and Israeli studies, and Middle Eastern politics.

182 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Hillel Cohen-Bar (Hebrew: [הלל כהן|21024156]) is an Israeli scholar who studies and writes about Jewish-Arab relations in Palestine/Israel. He is an associated professor at the Department of Islam and Middle East Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the head of the Cherrick Center for the Study of Zionism and the State of Israel at that university.

Reviews

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Palestinian Jerusalemite, this book has been very enriching and eye opening to the development of Palestinian identity in the city in the last century.
It’s also been very heart wrenching and depressing to see how every decision and “move towards peace” has only worsened the state of Palestinians in the city, and strengthened the colonialist aspirations and demands.
Cohen has surprised me with his sensitivity to the subject, to his use of terminology and to his extensive knowledge of the Palestinian political landscape, which has made this book even more interesting, and definitely easier to swallow and process.
I honestly wanted more from the book, which was not Cohen’s responsibility, but it was being asked since the book kept getting more and more pessimistic. I’ll see what I can do about it though.