In the complex Palestinian reality, where occupation intersects with political division and economic and social challenges, security becomes a much broader concept than merely the absence of violence. It is evident that the occupation is the primary reason for the lack of security among Palestinian youth, as ongoing oppression, political restrictions, and economic hardship reinforce instability in their lives. Additionally, security in the Palestinian context is not only measured by the absence of direct military threats but also by youth’s ability to play their role in the national liberation project and their sense of stability and safety to continue their struggle for self-determination. The absence of this sense of security diminishes youth’s capacity for creativity, initiative, and active participation in building the nation's future.
Redefining Security in the Palestinian Context
Youth have always been the backbone of the Palestinian national movement, playing a pivotal role in resisting the occupation, strengthening national unity, and building a more cohesive society. However, deepening internal divisions, increasing political repression, and the economic and social marginalization of youth primarily exacerbated by the occupation have led many to feel that their role in the national project has been severely constrained due to the absence of real security.
Redefining security in this context does not only mean reinforcing traditional security measures; it involves addressing the occupation as the primary factor behind insecurity, creating an environment that enables youth to actively participate in national liberation without fear, and
ensuring their political, social, and economic rights. A "sustainable societal peace" cannot be achieved while youth lack the security to express their opinions, participate in national movements, or secure a stable economic future that allows them to remain resilient in their homeland.
Towards a New Security Model: Core Pillars
Political Security: Ensuring Youth's Role in Self-Determination
Sustainable security cannot be achieved without confronting the occupation as the root cause of insecurity and ensuring freedom of expression and political participation for youth in shaping national decision-making whether through official institutions or grassroots movements. Palestinian youth have always been at the forefront of national and liberation movements, yet the intensification of oppressive occupation policies, alongside internal restrictions, has complicated their role. Today, there is a need to restructure representative frameworks to reflect their true leadership role in the coming phase.
Economic Security: The Occupation as a Major Obstacle to Resilience and Stability
The occupation targets the Palestinian economy as a tool for control and to undermine resilience, leading to soaring unemployment rates and the absence of economic opportunities, which hinder youth from achieving economic security. There is a pressing need to invest in youth economic empowerment by:
Supporting entrepreneurial projects that bypass the restrictions imposed by the occupation.
Promoting a solidarity economy as a means of resilience against oppressive economic policies.
Linking the economy to popular resistance and independent development to counter the occupation’s efforts to weaken Palestinians.
Community Security: The Occupation as a Cause of Division and Fragmentation
For decades, the occupation has deepened political and geographical divisions, negatively impacting the concept of community security. Rebuilding trust among youth from different regions, ideological backgrounds, and Palestinian communities is essential for ensuring sustainable security. Therefore, efforts should focus on:
Open national youth dialogue to reinforce the idea of a shared destiny despite the occupation’s attempts to fragment Palestinian society.
Community initiatives that restore the collective national identity, which the occupation seeks to erase.
Cultural and Media Security: Countering the Occupation’s Narrative Distortion
The struggle over historical narratives is a fundamental part of the Palestinian resistance, as the occupation systematically distorts the Palestinian story and falsifies facts. Youth, as the most engaged generation with digital media, have a central role in countering misinformation campaigns and creating independent media platforms that reflect the Palestinian reality.
Environmental Security: The Occupation’s Destruction of Resources as a Means of Control
The occupation targets the Palestinian environment by confiscating land, destroying agriculture, and controlling natural resources, which necessitates that youth take a leading role in:
Launching agricultural initiatives to protect the land and enhance resilience against the occupation’s destructive policies.
Adopting sustainable environmental projects that preserve natural resources from occupation-led exploitation.
Advocating for environmental policies that safeguard land and resources from colonial plundering.
How Can Youth Lead Change?
To ensure the success of a new security model that serves the Palestinian national project, youth must take practical steps:
Confront the occupation as the primary cause of insecurity by strengthening their role in political struggle and peaceful resistance.
Demand broader political representation within national frameworks and push for reforms that enhance their role in decision-making.
Launch economic and social initiatives that strengthen community resilience and create new job opportunities despite occupation-imposed restrictions.
Promote national unity by focusing on shared causes instead of political divisions fueled by the occupation.
Utilize digital media as a resistance tool to amplify the Palestinian narrative and strengthen global solidarity.
Link economic and environmental development to the liberation project to ensure sustainable resources and national resilience.
Conclusion
Security in Palestine cannot merely be defined as the absence of violence; it must serve as a framework that empowers Palestinian youth to play their role in the national project. The occupation is the primary obstacle to achieving real security, and Palestinian youth cannot experience true freedom and stability until the occupation ends. Redefining security is not just a theoretical discussion but a practical responsibility that falls on every young Palestinian who sees themselves as an agent of change and a leader of a future built on greater freedom and dignity.