The author describes and analyzes the experiences of internal refugees since the establishment of the state, from the perspective of the struggle over the “refugee identity.” The author discusses the tension between state efforts to undermine this identity as part of its policy against the Right of Return, and refugee activists who strive to preserve it. The author notes that in the late 1980s it had seemed as if the state’s goal of uprooting the refugee identity was achieved, but there has been a re-awakening of refugee identity in the last decade. Re-awakening is related to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, but the author also suggests that such fluctuations are related to the very nature of “refugee identity,” which has two components, one of which one is positive (“my roots are there”) and one of which is negative (“I am not from here”).
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Do you need support integrating these resources and issues into your philanthropic, communal, or Israel education work? Reach out for consultations, connections to experts, program support, training, or to plan your next event or mission. If you’ve used our resources, tell us about your experience!