Spaces of Colonial Oppressions: Palestinians’ Bodily Experiences of Checkpoints

Abstract

This article explores how bodily living and experiencing life as colonized subjects affects the perception of space and time. It argues that the Zionist settler-colonial trinity of control (checkpoints, ID cards, and permits) are not mere physical barriers of separation or restriction of movement and mobility. They are also a direct mechanism of colonial power that articulates how oppressive spaces are lived and consequently form the colonized perception of being-in-the-world. Based on two years of ethnographic study at Qalandia checkpoint between 2015 and 2017, the article adopts a phenomenological anthropological lens and focuses on two moments of bodily experiences related to passing the checkpoint: First, the bodily experience before reaching the checkpoint; and second, the bodily experience when crossing the checkpoint.

Keywords:

• Bodily experiences
• checkpoints
• embodiment
• perception
• settler colonialism
• space

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Colonial Israel has introduced different type of IDs for Palestinians. Those who remained in 48 territories received an Israel blue ID and considered as ‘Israeli Citizen’, while those who live in the West Bank received Palestinian green ID, and Palestinians who live in Jerusalem received a blue permanent resident IDs.