Undermining economic, social and cultural cohesion By controlling decision-making on road planning and public transport systems, Israel reinforces its grip on Palestinians, while depriving them of any choice agency, “[…] virtually determin[ing] the type of work that residents are able to pursue, [as well as] people’s job-making decisions.”369 The setting and routing of the Israeli public transportation system strictly defines the locations that Palestinians in Umm al-Fahm can access and consequently where they can work. Before 1948, most people were farmers and specialized in hay cultivation, thus smoke cultivation, but [Israeli domination] has killed this profession. As a result, most people began to work in construction, which is usually based on short-term contracts, so more people are virtually unemployed due to the impermanent nature of construction work. Other Fahmawi residents are employed by the Ministry of Education and it is where most educated fellows work, due to its simplicity in practice and administration. Wajdi Hassan Jabbarin, Writer, Historian Interview: Umm al-Fahm, 6 November 2019 This situation has pushed most residents to work in colonies, rather than in Umm al-Fahm or other Palestinian areas; construction is the type of work that Israel permits us to have because commuting to work is only possible through a transportation system that is designed and approved by Israel. Fahmawi Youth Movement Interview: Umm al-Fahm, 7 November 2019 The reality is a situation in which Israel is able to both create and sustain a cycle in which Palestinians of Umm al-Fahm are faced with high levels of unemployment, who are then forced to seek employment outside Umm al-Fahm. Higher poverty rates come with low wages,370 low education levels,371 as well as low levels of infrastructure – notably in terms of public transportation and road maintenance.372 In other words, the Israeli demarcation on Umm al-Fahm and its ensuing isolation from its 369 Fahmawi Youth Movement, supra 301. 370 Only 3.79 percent of income earners receive more than twice the average wage, and almost 55 percent receive below the minimum wage. See ICBS, supra 306. 371 In 2013, Umm Al-Fahm counted less than 12 percent of academic degree holders, compared to 28.50 percent nationwide, and the average years of schooling was – in average – 1.64 years below the national average. See ICBS, supra 306. 372 OECD, supra 282, 118. 91