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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Maria Rashed

I’m a Palestinian citizen of Israel. Right now, that’s as complex as you could possibly imagine

A Palestinian flag flying in Israel, March 2023.
A Palestinian flag flying in Israel, March 2023. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters

One thing that unites Palestinians is that our journey is never easy or smooth. To be a Palestinian citizen in Israel is exceptionally challenging – especially at the moment, when people expect you to take a clear, one-sided stance. I am forced to constantly question where I truly belong, feeling nowhere and everywhere simultaneously.

I was born and raised in Nazareth in a Christian family. Later, I moved to Tel Aviv, living in a diverse community with Arabs and Jews. Although I was born in Israel, I struggle to identify fully with a country that views me as a second-class citizen, publicly speaks against Arabs, oppresses Palestinians – and the list goes on.

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