"the Right to Life, Liberty and the Security of Person" - the Case of Divorced Arab- Palestinian Women in Israel

Over the last few decades there has been an increase in the divorce rate in Arab-Palestinian society[1], but divorcees’ position remains socially unacceptable and associated with disgrace and tragedy. Divorcées from various backgrounds continue to be condemned, criticized, and subjected to strict supervision, exposing them to life-threatening violence This paper provides a nuanced examination of the physical/mental/economic violence these women experience. In addition to outlining the women’s vulnerable condition and describing their lives in the shadow of violence in familial-social relations, I also raise questions regarding the 'institutional violence' manifested by various institutions and their ability to meet these women’s needs, as well as analyzing the extent to which policies are tailored to women from distinct locations (e.g. employment or housing). All this is done from the prism of one of the human rights: the right to 'life, liberty and security of the person'.

Based on interviews with 35 divorced women and a secondary analysis of data extrapolated from media surveillance, the findings indicate that divorced Arab-Palestinian women’s status and the barriers they face is not only a cultural matter but also a consequence of their position as women in a minority group. Therefore, a supportive institutional network is needed to serve as a protective shield for women from minority communities who remain vulnerable when legislation and policy is detached from their civic status and cultural context.

[1] In 2008 the gross divorce rate was 1.8 per 1,000 in the overall population; 2.0 per 1,000 among Jews, 1.1 per 1,000 among Muslims; 0.6 per 1,000 among Christians (ICBS 2012). And in 2021 the gross divorce rate was 8.9 per 1,000 in the overall population; 9.3 per 1,000 among Jews, 8.2 per 1,000 among Muslims; 4.3 per 1,000 among Christians and 5.6 per 1,000 among Druze (ICBS, 2023).