Emancipation Within

“Emancipation Within” refers to the belief that the cultural and spatial challenges facing Arab cities and villages in Israel must be addressed from within through grassroots efforts, local movements, and NGOs, as the status quo offers no genuine solutions.

The Old City of Shefar’am is one of only two major Palestinian cities that survived the Nakba with most of its population and urban centers intact. However, the built heritage and distinctly Palestinian character of the Old City’s center are facing abandonment and decay. Neglect at both the regional and state levels has accelerated this decline, threatening to erase Shefar’am’s history, collective memory, and the physical evidence of authentic Palestinian claims to the land.

Within Israel, Palestinian identity is often questioned, suppressed, dismissed, or oppressed. Allowing the deterioration of historic Palestinian spaces like the Old City of Shefar’am is a step towards cultural erasure—not just for Palestinians as a whole, but particularly for the people of Shefar’am.

This project proposes creating public spaces within the Old City of Shefar’am as a catalyst for conservation. It aims to preserve the city’s history and heritage for future generations while simultaneously fostering an alternative urban strategy centered around local commerce, seasonal events, and tourism