Palestinian people by Israel. For example, the lack of economic opportunities in the job market and forcible displacement are interpreted through the lens of rational economic choice instead of recognizing that they are the result of Israel’s deliberate attempts to thwart Palestinian economic development. The calculated consequence is that it works to bring Palestinians and the international community to consider Palestinians as complicit and responsible for their existing problems and normalize their position of inferiority. These self-blaming processes affect the extent to which political remedies are addressed and pursued. This pattern consisting of a failure to recognize the political and historical paths that have led to the current situation, a satisfaction with only concentrating on the existing reality, and resorting to self-blame, characterize how […] Palestinian society generally, deals with their current social issues—through depoliticization. Such patterns have consistently characterized people living under colonialism and religious persecution. This type of prolonged repression, juxtaposed with a failure to deter or counteract foreign control, eventually evolves into feelings of helplessness and a deep sense of guilt. Colonial regimes also attempt to perpetuate a mentality in the minds of those colonized, that they are to blame for their current situation and that they need colonial rule to reform and be ‘civilized’.395 Asrar Kayyal, Psychologist Interview: Umm al-Fahm, 7 November 2019 Crippling Palestinian resistance and determination The oppressive Israeli regime can subsequently be perceived or even legitimized as the only valid and possible option of redress, feeding and strengthening the cycle of dependency and control, thereby crippling Palestinian resistance and political determination. “[Israel] considers that where we are today represents our maximum development capacity – they even intervene in our educational and employment pursuits to keep us confined.”396 The Palestinian economy becomes so intrinsically interwoven with the Israeli colonial fabric that Palestinians have no other choice than to abide by its oppressive rule to survive, de facto reinforcing the cycle of oppression. Palestinians are constrained by their need to obtain security clearances, permits and/or employment within the Israeli economy in order to sustain their livelihoods and families, which is contingent on 395 Supra 384. 396 Fahmawi Youth Movement, supra 301. 103