Settler colonial denizenship: Ibrahim Khatib, ‘Citizen-subjects in an ethnocratic regime: Palestinians in Israel within a settler colonial context’, Citizenship Studies, 2025 | settler colonial studies blog

Settler colonial denizenship: Ibrahim Khatib, ‘Citizen-subjects in an ethnocratic regime: Palestinians in Israel within a settler colonial context’, Citizenship Studies, 2025

22Sep25

Abstract: This article examines the idea of ‘citizen-subjects’ to highlight the contradictions between the modern state’s view of citizenship and the realities within an ethnocratic regime and settler-colonial context. By focusing on Palestinians in Israel, it explores how their citizenship status is systematically diminished to prioritize a Jewish national identity. The citizen-subjects framework shows how their political participation depends on adopting the Israeli- Jewish narrative, focusing on socio-economic issues over national politics and avoiding discussions of collective rights – thus conflicting with both citizenship rights and Indigenous peoples’ rights. This was especially evident during the United Arab List’s role in the 2021–2022 government coalition. Nevertheless, Israeli policies continue to restrict Palestinian political agency and expressions of national identity, thereby reinforcing an ethnocratic system that subjugates them to the Jewish majority. By applying the citizen- subjects framework, this article highlights the ways state policies shape and constrain Palestinian political and national expression, offering insights for broader debates on citizenship, indigenous rights, and the limits of political inclusion in ethnocratic contexts.

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