Violence Against Palestinian Women in the West Bank

Palestinian women live at the intersection of three forms of oppression: Israeli settler colonial violence; patriarchy; and sociolegal discrimination. The intimate partner violence that Palestinian women experience cannot be understood outside of these contexts, particularly the Israeli colonization. Although laws and systems (civil, religious, military, and customary) that could, in theory, adjudicate violence against women do exist, they are numerous, difficult to navigate, and confusing, with each having its own set of rules, and the ability of women to engage these systems is constrained by the multiple forms of oppression that they face. Similarly, police and social services may be inaccessible to women suffering intimate partner violence. The chapter concludes with suggestions for reform and lessons that the United States can draw upon in addressing intimate partner violence against indigenous and minority women in America.