Self-blame and self-isolationism This creation of dependency to the Israeli-Jewish system also prevents and stifles the opportunity to conceive a different future and coerces Palestinians into thinking of themselves as the problem and inherently incompetent. The oppressive Israeli system is subsequently legitimized as the only valid and possible option of redress, feeding and strengthening the cycle of dependency and control. Israel “considers that where we [Palestinians in Umm al-Fahm] are today represents our maximum development capacity – they even intervene in our educational and employment pursuits to keep us confined.”378 The perceived objectivity of urban planning rules and procedures is just one factor that creates this illusion that Palestinian cities are solely responsible for their own urban problems. In actual fact, however, these prevailing circumstances are a result of discriminatory planning rules and procedures designed to favor Israeli-Jewish populations. At the same time, Umm al-Fahm’s isolation induces an inward-looking mentality and resembles a process of depoliticization. Palestinians there seek internal reasons and solutions to a socio-economic situation inherently due to external factors: “the society is reckless, and people’s thoughts are limited… the people here gravitate towards violence and have difficulty in engaging in mature discussions.”379 The lack of economic opportunities in the job market and forcible displacement are interpreted through the lens of rational economic choice, instead of recognition of these issues as the results of Israel’s deliberate attempts to thwart the economic development of Umm al-Fahm. “The youth do not work [in Umm al-Fahm]; they prefer working outside of Umm al-Fahm and amongst Israeli-Jews because Umm al-Fahm’s business owners do not provide workers with standard payments and benefits.”380 As a result, Palestinians “consider themselves as contributors to the existing problems in Umm al-Fahm”381 and normalize their constructed position of inferiority. “Israel’s policies of separation and restriction also […] aim to […] coerce us into believing that we ought to only think of meeting the minimum 378 Ibid. 379 Ibid., cited in Asrar Kayyal, Psychologist’s analysis of the Focus Group Interview conducted by BADIL. “The [youth] group attributed most of the problems and obstacles faced by the Fahmawi community to internal reasons: […] the Fahmawi mentality, its demographic composition, and its societal approach.” Asrar Kayyal, Psychologist’s analysis of the Focus Group Interview conducted by BADIL. 380 Ibid. 381 Ibid. 93