Palestinian youth and the Arab Spring

This research project investigates young Palestinians' views of their economic and political situation and their interest in and level of engagement in politics with reference to two momentous political events in 2011: the Arab Spring and the Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations General Assembly. A main question is whether the Occupied Palestinian Territories are experiencing a reinvigoration of youth activism.

The findings suggest that Palestinian youth have exited from politics to a great extent, prioritizing personal affairs (family and job) when considering the current situation and their future. They are unhappy with a difficult job situation, although West Bank youth express more optimism about the future than young people in the Gaza Strip. Corruption and political favoritism is experienced as a major problem on the personal level in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas governments are also criticized in regard to the state of democracy, freedom of expression and human rights, more so in the Gaza Strip than in the West Bank.

Widespread discontent with their situation among the youth does not translate into increased political interest or engagement. Instead, the majority leaves organized politics and what they consider a political class associated mostly with Fatah and Hamas and to which few seem to see any alternative. Thus, the Arab Spring has not led to the youth questioning fundamentally the performance of their leaders, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' going to the UN has not inspired noticeable enthusiasm either. The governments in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip do not face an imminent explosion of youth anger – but neither do they inspire much enthusiasm among the young people they are dependent on to wage a successful liberation struggle.

The project report was submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in November 2011, and a revised report was published jointly by Fafo and the Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre in March 2012.

Researchers

Jacob Høigilt
jah@fafo.no
+47 22088686

Mona Christophersen
moc@fafo.no
+47 22088600/
+47 98888604

Åge A. Tiltnes
ati@fafo.no
+47 22088629
+47 97433960

Akram Atallah
akram@fafo.ps
+972 59 96 20 12
+972 2 27 60 232

Hani Eldada
hani@fafo.ps
+972 59 97 81 030

Publications

Christophersen, M., Høigilt, J. and Tiltnes, Å. A. (2012), Palestinian youth and the Arab Spring. Fafo-report 2012:09/NOREF report