When the outside penetrates the inside: the relationship between Palestinian Israeli and Jewish Israeli social workers in mixed cities during the events of May 2021

ABSTRACT

The violent national events that occurred in Israel in May 2021 heightened the sense of anxiety and insecurity for Palestinian and Jewish citizens alike, particularly in mixed cities. This study examines the dynamics, emotions, and perceptions of Palestinian-Israeli and Jewish-Israeli social workers in mixed cities against the backdrop of these events. The study included in-depth interviews with 25 Palestinian-Israeli and Jewish-Israeli social workers in welfare departments in six mixed cities in Israel. The analysis was encoded inductively, informed by the principles of content analysis. Two themes emerged: (1) overt and hidden conflicts between social workers of both nationalities; and (2) challenges to cooperation against the background of the conflict. The research findings enable a deep and broad understanding of the complexity of the personal, national, and professional identities of Palestinian-Israeli and Jewish-Israeli social workers in Israel, reflected in their relationships with colleagues of the other nationality. Raising awareness of these aspects will facilitate developing appropriate tools for intervention programs and a direct and sensitive reference to these issues within the curricula of social work schools in Israel.

תַקצִיר

אירועי מאי 2021 , שהתאפיינו באלימות פוליטית, הגבירו את תחושת החרדה וחוסר הביטחון של אזרחים פלסטינים ויהודים כאחד, במיוחד בערים מעורבות. מחקר זה בוחן את הדינמיקה, הרגשות והתפיסות של עובדים סוציאליים פלסטינים-ישראלים ויהודים-ישראלים בערים מעורבות על רקע אירועים אלו. המחקר כלל ראיונות עומק עם 25 עובדים סוציאליים פלסטינים-ישראלים ויהודים-ישראלים במחלקות רווחה בשש ערים מעורבות בישראל. הניתוח קודד באופן אינדוקטיבי, בהתבסס על עקרונות ניתוח התוכן. שתי תמות עלו: (1) קונפליקטים גלויים ונסתרים בין עובדים סוציאליים משני הלאומים; (2) אתגרים לשיתוף פעולה על רקע הקונפליקט. ממצאי המחקר מאפשרים הבנה עמוקה ורחבה של מורכבות הזהות האישית, הלאומית והמקצועית של עובדים סוציאליים פלסטינים-ישראלים ויהודים-ישראלים בישראל, המשתקפת ביחסיהם עם עמיתים בני הלאום האחר. העלאת המודעות להיבטים אלו תסייע ב פיתוח כלים מתאימים לתוכניות התערבות, והתייחסות ישירה ורגישה לנושאים אלו במסגרת תוכניות הלימודים של בתי הספר לעבודה סוציאלית בישראל.‏

KEYWORDS:

• Social workers’ relationships
• political conflict
• mixed cities
• coping strategies

מילות מפתח:

• יחסי עובדים סוציאליים
• סכסוך פוליטי
• ערים מעורבות
• אסטרטגיות התמודדות

Disclosure statement

The author report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Walter-Lebach Institute for Jewish-Arab Coexistence.

Notes on contributors

Sagit Lev

Sagit Lev, PhD, is a lecturer at the School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Her recent writings have dealt with ethical dilemmas and moral conflicts of social workers and their emotional implications, long-term care facilities for older adults and people with intellectual disabilities, sexual assault of older women and ageism.

Neveen Ali-Saleh Darawshy

Dr. Neveen Ali-Saleh Darawshy stands as an esteemed researcher and educator, dedicating her career to unravelling intricate and conflict-laden matters within the field of social work. Her expertise envelops diverse dimensions including social workers in conflict zones, the impact of violence exposure on mental health, and the subsequent consequences. Dr. Darawshy adeptly employs both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to unearth comprehensive insights. One notable achievement in Dr. Darawshy's journey is her systematic review that delved into intervention programs targeting the prevention of community violence exposure and providing support to refugee families. As a senior lecturer at Bar-Ilan University's Louis & Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Dr. Neveen Ali-Saleh Darawshy instruct classes covering topics such as community violence and social work, primary intervention methods in social work, working with families in theory and practice, along with courses centered around identity, sensitivity, and cultural competence within the context of social work.

Shlomit Weiss-Dagan

Shlomit Weiss-Dagan is a member of the School of Social Work at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Shlomit holds a PhD in Social-Work and a Master in Social-Work (MSW). Her research interest is social welfare policy, poverty and inequality from a critical theory perspective. She studied before secondary traumatization among social workers. Her recent publications deal with inequality of right take-up through an intersectionality lens; poverty aware paradigm; and emerging adulthood and adolescents at risk.