Last week’s Palestinian general strike saw the widespread closure of businesses and workplaces in Gaza, Jerusalem, the West Bank, and, most strikingly, inside Israel itself. The Israel Builders Association reported a $40 million loss from the paralysis of construction sites alone. The strike was heralded as part of a Unity Intifada because it was observed by Palestinians of all classes and in all of their geographically disconnected locations. 

In the decades since 1948, Israeli authorities have put their own spin on the old colonial strategy of divide and rule by fragmenting the Palestinian population, through both territorial isolation and manipulation of internal politics (by stoking the Hamas vs. Fatah rivalry, for example).

Last week’s karameh (dignity) strike has been widely interpreted as the clearest expression of a new front of solidarity among Palestinians. The action was called by the politically independent, albeit elite, High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, and was effectively promoted by youth-led networks that have all but eclipsed the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority’s leadership. Indeed, Palestinian elections were originally scheduled to take place just a few days later, only to be cancelled once again by President Mahmoud Abbas in the face of another projected win for Hamas.