Violence against Women—The Case of Divorced Palestinian-Arab women in Israel

Abstract:Focusing on divorced Palestinian-Arab women in Israel, this study aims to provide a nuanced examination of the different types of violence (physical, mental, and economic) these women experience from their ex-partners or relatives. The study emphasizes the presence in extreme cases of ex-partner violence ending in murder, recontextualizing crimes associated with so-called honor or tradition. The findings are based on interviews with thirty-five divorced women. The study also relies on a secondary analysis of data extrapolated from media surveillance. The findings indicate that a supportive institutional network is necessary to serve as a protective shield for women from minority communities who remain vulnerable when legislation and policy is detached from their civic status and their cultural context.