Israeli-Palestinian Muslims in the Service of People in the Occupied Territories

Abstract

Palestinian people living in Israel confront a dual existence. On one hand, they struggle for equal rights and inclusion; on the other, they oppose occupation and violation of human rights in the Occupied Territories. Indeed, this dual existence is particularly complex for Muslim citizens in Israel. In this article, we study Israeli Muslims who volunteer within Occupied Territories and compare them to those who volunteer within the borders of Israel. Based on a survey of 392 Israeli Muslim volunteers, one-third volunteered in Occupied Territories. Contrary to our expectations, Muslim volunteers in Israel encountered more friction with Israeli security forces. Also contrary to our expectations, volunteers in Israel were more engaged in issues of human rights, whereas Occupied Territory volunteers were focused on child welfare and poverty-alleviation services. Thus, we find that military governance of Occupied Territories prevents political volunteering, limiting politically motivated volunteering to citizens of Israel in Israel itself.