CHANGING POWER RELATIONS IN PALESTINIAN CIVIL SOCIETY UNDER THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION

Abstract

This study aims to identify the development of power relations in Palestinian civil society. The study adopted the ‘power cube’ approach that illustrates power relations in the public sphere. The study relied primarily on the interview as a tool for gathering information, especially from leaders of the popular committees, participants in the first intifada, and civil society professionals. The study concluded that Palestinian civil society's power relations were changing and evolving through various political stages that affected it in light of its subjugation under the Israeli occupation. Power relations in civil society during the pre-Oslo stage were "parallel" to the occupying power; because the role of civil society was positive to compensate for the role of the absent Palestinian Authority, and its most prominent components were the popular committees. During the post-Oslo stage, the power relations in the civil society were "confrontational" relations with the Palestinian Authority, due to its opposition to many of its actions. The Popular Committees, its most prominent components, disappeared and were replaced by non-governmental organizations, which were funded from abroad serving foreign agendas so their positive role essentially declined. Post-division between Hamas and Fateh phase, power relations in civil society were characterized by "Domination"; as civil society was dominated by each of Gaza’s authority, and by Ramallah’s authority. The role of civil society in this regard has become at its most vulnerable