Inequality in the Palestinian Context: Between Settler Colonialism and Public Policy Failure

The study relied on the available literature, studies, and research as well as analyzing the data provided by official Palestinian sources to analyze the various dimensions of inequality, the impact of the settler colonialism context on these dimensions, and the Palestinian government policies to address them. The study is also based on a comprehensive review of theories and literature on inequality, along with an analysis of data related to income, consumption, spending, wages, and other indicators provided by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS). Moreover, the study is based on collecting data on social services, such as social protection, education, health, energy, and water services, from relevant authorities, and analyzing them from the inequality perspective.

The study revealed that inequality in the Palestinian context is primarily linked to the settler colonialism context, which systematically and unsystematically undermines all Palestinian developmental structures, leading to the destruction of equality frameworks. Additionally, inequality itself is influenced by government policies and practices and their effectiveness in addressing underdevelopment, poverty, and inequality. Despite some improvements in public services and living standards for residents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the context of settler colonialism, including fragmentation in areas under the Palestinian Authority's control, hinders development and creates inequalities in the ability of all segments of society to access opportunities and services, depending on the place in which the individual in the West Bank and Gaza Strip lives. This geographic fragmentation and colonial authority policies have generated diverse realities and complex challenges in areas that do not have fair shares of human development, such as the besieged Gaza Strip, areas classified as "Area C," and refugee camps.

For decades, the Palestinian people have suffered the negative consequences of Israeli settler colonialism, which imposed punitive measures and systematic destruction of the economy and infrastructure. This situation has created a wide range of challenges and difficulties across the political and economic landscape, ultimately reinforcing regional and service-based inequality as a result of policies of blockade, isolation, military barriers, and economic and financial policies imposed by the colonial authority on the Palestinians.
The study revealed that the policies and measures taken by the Palestinian Authority, despite their shortcomings, may contribute to mitigating underdevelopment and, consequently, inequality among different districts and social groups. However, they remain inadequate in fostering development, reducing poverty, and enhancing equality in the ongoing colonial context. Thus, any genuine development process that includes achieving fair distribution and access to resources and services is fundamentally linked to the Palestinians' right to self-determination and independent state.
The study highlighted that challenges arising from weak public policies are associated with an imbalance in the distribution of resources among different sectors, especially in terms of insufficient financial allocations from the public budget for basic services. Consequently, social and economic inequality rises, which requires the development of developmental and financial policies sensitive to basic services in the most marginalized areas and vulnerable groups which would help reduce the state of inequality.
Moreover, the study clearly revealed that inequality in the Palestinian context is not only linked to economic indicators (such as poverty, income, and wages) but also to all developmental dimensions, including social protection, education, health, energy, and water services. Therefore, reducing inequality in the Palestinian context requires a comprehensive approach that focuses on all developmental dimensions without being limited to economic ones only.