Summary
Overview
In this profound conversation, Palestinian philosopher Sari Nusseibeh discusses life under Israeli occupation in East Jerusalem, his decades-long advocacy for non-violent resistance, and the complex path toward Israeli-Palestinian coexistence. Speaking from his historic family home, Nusseibeh reflects on the failures of the two-state solution, his evolving political positions, the October 7th attacks and Israel's response, and why he believes lasting peace can only come through mutual understanding rather than violence or international intervention.
Living Under Occupation in East Jerusalem
Nusseibeh describes the unique legal status of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, who hold residency cards rather than citizenship and live under Israeli civil law since the 1967 annexation. Despite having more mobility than West Bank Palestinians, East Jerusalem residents face constant uncertainty, building restrictions, and the threat of administrative detention without charges—a reality Nusseibeh experienced firsthand when he was imprisoned for three months in 1991.
- Palestinians in East Jerusalem are residents, not citizens—about 90-95% hold residency cards rather than Israeli citizenship
- East Jerusalem came under Israeli civil law after 1967 annexation, with building zones severely restricted to squeeze Palestinians into small areas
- Administrative detention allows imprisonment for months without charges or right to defense—Nusseibeh spent three months in jail under this system
- Despite residency rights, Palestinians in East Jerusalem can travel to Tel Aviv while West Bank Palestinians cannot cross over
" We're not Israelis. We have just residents. We've been given residence cards or rights and we are treated like an occupied people. "
" Administrative detention means that you can be picked up, you can just be thrown into the prison cell, you can be accused of all kinds of things without having the right to defend yourself, not even know what the charges are. "
Living with Uncertainty and Fear
Throughout the conversation, Nusseibeh describes the psychological reality of living under constant uncertainty—never knowing if there will be roadblocks, raids, or attempts to take his historic home. He candidly admits to not feeling safe and having horrible thoughts like wanting to shoot settlers' tires, while also explaining how Palestinians develop coping mechanisms to live between moments of violence and maintain some semblance of normal life.
- Nusseibeh's historic family home could be targeted for takeover at any time, though it hasn't happened yet
- IDF raids happen regularly in Jerusalem neighborhoods, creating moments of terror that become normalized
- Travel to places like Jericho is unpredictable—sometimes 30 minutes, sometimes hours at roadblocks
- Palestinians develop psychological ways of dealing with uncertainty, living in between moments of violence
" I don't actually feel safe, to tell you the truth. I feel that we're under constant worry and concern because one never knows exactly what Israel has up its sleeve to do next. "
" Sometimes in roadblocks, sometimes the people that try to overtake you out of order, and when you become very fed up you think to yourself, I wish I had a gun with nails and I can shoot their tires and puncture them. So horrible thoughts like this of course exist. "
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