The Matrix: Rights, government and daily life in Palestine
I'd like to introduce you to three Palestinian women: Sarah, Fatima and Khalida.
Sarah is from East Jerusalem and has an East Jerusalem ID. Fatima is from Haifa and has Israeli citizenship. Khalida is from Ramallah proper and has a PA-issued ID card (pre-approved by the military's "Israeli civil administration").
Each of these women has been offered a job in the West Bank city of Ramallah, and each would be thrilled to accept. But whether they can – well, that depends.
Sarah can move to Ramallah at the risk of losing her East Jerusalem ID number and its correlated advantages, like Israeli health insurance. If she accepts the job, she must commute daily and, fortunately, her yellow licence plate displaying an Israeli flag allows her to drive in both the West Bank and Israel proper.
Fatima, with her Israeli citizenship, is forbidden from living in Ramallah. Like Sarah, she can commute in a yellow-plated car.
