Living in a Mixing Neighborhood: Reflexive Coexistence and the Discourse of Separation by Regev Nathansohn A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Anthropology) in The University of Michigan 2017 Doctoral Committee: Professor Stuart Kirsch, Chair Associate Professor Carol B. Bardenstein Associate Professor Damani J. Partridge Associate Professor Amalia Sa’ar, University of Haifa Regev Nathansohn [email protected] ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7236-4722 © Regev Nathansohn 2017 DEDICATION In memory of Juliano Mer–Khamis (1958–2011), an inspiration that knows no bounds. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I love Anthropology. But loving anthropology is not enough for guaranteeing that one will be able to show their love in the form of a completed research project. It always takes more than that. It is thanks to many people who are mentioned here, and many more that I cannot mention here by name, that I am able to present this dissertation. The completion of this dissertation comes ten years after I started crafting my research proposal, first as a PhD student at Tel Aviv University (TAU) before moving to the University of Michigan (U-M). During that period I met many people who helped me in various ways to develop and improve my research and writing. Some of them had a major role in several critical junctions, but the final decisions, whether successful or not – were always mine. Of the people who shared with me their time, wisdom, kindness and bread I particularly wish to thank Stuart Kirsch, the chair of my dissertation committee, who always pushed me to go beyond what I imagined are my intellectual limits. Above all, Stuart was always there, supportive and understanding, a mensch in the most positive sense of the word. It was a pleasure to work with my committee members, Carol Bardnstein, Damani Partridge and Amalia Sa’ar, and discuss with them the various aspects of my research. Through cross-Atlantic Skype conversations, to coffee shop meetings (in Jerusalem and Haifa) and seminar discussions, it was always inspiring to brainstorm ideas with them. The occasion of my dissertation defense was a true intellectual celebration, and I thank you all for your deep engagement in my work. I am happy to return from Ann Arbor to Haifa, with Amalia as a neighbor-mentor in Hadar neighborhood, knowing that friendly, thought provoking conversations will continue. iii Throughout my career as a student no one has influenced the development of my thinking and the practice of my research like Yehouda Shenhav. Since my days as an undergraduate student in the late 1990s, Yehouda has always been there for me, continuously challenging and unconditionally supporting me. There are not enough words to thank you, Yehouda. When I began my research at TAU, Danny Rabinowitz advised me to narrow my field of research and focus on Haifa. After making my first steps in Haifa, it was Dalit Simchai who led me to Hadar. This project would have been totally different without Dan and Dalit’s intervention. In Haifa, Dalit was my critical mentor, who constantly helped me sharpen my senses and learn how to balance modesty and courage in academic research. More than being a brilliant scholar and mentor, Dalit is a true friend. There is no bigger pleasure than learning with and from friends. Benny Nuriely contributed and still contributes the most to my intellectual growth with his sharp observations, critical and The list of friends and colleagues who helped in diverse .אחי ,unapologetic comments. Toda, Benny ways throughout the years of this project is long. I thank Smadar Sharon, Dafna Hirsch, Ora Slonim, Fakhrieh Homede, Bruno Renero-Hannan, Mary-Kate Dennis, Yanay Israeli, Kelly Fayard, Yaqub Hilal, Tamar Katriel, Zeynep Gürsel, Nitza Berkovitch, Laurie Marx, Samir Zoabi, Tal Shamur, Naor Ben-Yehoyada, Riyad Shammas, Tom Pessach, Yuval Yonay, Debbie Bernstein, Joseph Viscomi, Gadi Algazi, Dan, Eli and Yasha Schultz, Müge Gocek, Darryl Li, Khaled Furani, Jennifer Bowles, Kathrine Fultz, Nili Gold, Rona Sela, Jennifer Robertson, Tom Fricke, Adriana Kemp, Nadem Karkabi, Udi Adiv, Rolly Rosen, Manar Hasan, Adi Efrat, Tal Meler, Shadi Basoul, Uri Simonsohn, Dalia Alturi, Edna Lomsky-Feder, Daniel Monterescu, Shunit Cohen, Tamar Barkay, Maisoon Badawi, Yifat Gutman, Shai Zamir, Eldad Levy, Himmat Zu’bi, Orit Hirsch-Matsioulas, Ilana Hairston, Ruth Tsoffar, Alona Nitzan-Shiftan, Ilan Saban, Rachel Kallus, David De Vries and Neve Gordon. Avi Mizrachi supported me in multidimensional ways. Thank you, Avi, habibi. iv Several grants and fellowships from the University of Michigan assisted me throughout the research. I wish to thank the Yossi Schiff foundation, the International Institute, the Department of Anthropology and the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies for their generous support. Early versions of parts of this work were presented in several academic forums and I thank the participants for their listening and comments: the U-M Ethnography as Activism workgroup, the Anthro-History Seminar (2009/2010) and the IHJR Haifa workshop. Chapter 2 was developed during a workshop on the history and anthropology of the Israeli-Palestinian space, hosted by the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. Different parts of this chapter were presented in several academic settings, including the annual meeting of the Israeli Anthropological Association in 2013, a colloquium of Haifa University's Department of History of Middle East in 2014, and a workshop organized in 2016 by the Universities of Haifa and Bologna on “Ethnographic and Semiotic Perspectives on the Study of Urban Landscapes.” I thank the participants in these forums for their useful feedback. The early draft of this chapter was written by me in Hebrew and translated into English by Noam Ben-Ishie. Chapter 5 was presented in the Anthropological Forum of Haifa University in November 2016, and an early version of Chapter 6 was presented at ISA World Congress in Buenos Aires in 2012. I am grateful to the participants in these forums for the brilliant comments that they shared with me. I am thankful for Shula and Uri, my parents, for their support of my education and personal growth. Unfortunately, my father had passed away before I started my doctoral studies abroad, a phase in my life which would have made him proud. This whole endeavor would not have been My brother Tal, his .תודה, אמא .possible without my mother's ongoing support and endless wisdom wife, Yael, and their kids – Elad and Inbar, are always on my thoughts, widening my heart. Giora Baram is the family’s sorcerer, whose magic touch made all kinds of obstacles disappear. Thank you, Giora, you are one of a kind. v Lastly, to the many, so many people, who I met in Haifa, and particularly in Hadar neighborhood: I cannot thank you enough. This work is yours. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION …………………………………………………………………………………………………… ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS……………………………………………………………………………………… iii LIST OF IMAGES………………………………………………………………………………………………. x ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………………………………. xii INTRODUCTION Haifa’s Paradox: Between Discourse of Separation and Reflexive Coexistence ……..………………………………………………. 1 - Seven Seconds on Coexistence……………………………………………………………….….. 1 - Discourse of Separation……………………………………………………………………………. 6 - Reflexive Coexistence in a Mixing Neighborhood……………………………………….. 11 - Methodology, Ethics and Subjectivity………………………….……………………….……. 16 - The Organization of Chapters………………………………………..…………………….……. 24 PART I Discourse of Separation……………………………………………………………………. 27 CHAPTER 1 A Brief Genealogy of the Discourse of Separation ………………..…... 28 - Coexistence and Separation under Empires and Nation States……..…..………… 29 - Coexistence and Separation in Palestine in the First Half of the 20th Century.. 38 - Coexistence and Separation in the State of Israel……………………………………….. 47 - Discourse of Separation and “Mixed Cities” in Israel……………………….……..….. 53 - Coexistence and Separation in Haifa’s Historiography………………………………. 59 CHAPTER 2 Narrating Coexistence History: Discourse of Separation in Haifa Walking Tours………………………………………………………….…….. 79 - Introduction: Coexistence as Discourse of Separation…………………………………. 79 - Haifa Walking Tours, 2007–2012……………………………………………………………... 80 - Present-ing Haifa’s History of Coexistence………………………………………………….. 84 - “High Fences Make Good Neighbors”………………………………………………………….. 87 - Expanding outside the Walls: From Religious to Class Distinctions………………. 93 - Haifa’s Nakba and the Discourse of Separation……………………………………………. 98 - The Seam Line Unraveled…………………………………………………………………………… 105 vii - Discourse of Separation between the Visual and the Social…………………………... 111 - Discourse of Separation between Business and Pleasure…………………………….. 115 - Social Categories and Social Imagination……………………………………………………. 120 - Becoming a Tour Guide……………………………………………………………………………... 126 - Discussion………………………………………………………………………………………………… 128 PART II The Mixing Neighborhood…………………………………………………………………. 132 CHAPTER 3 Hadar’s Street-Level Coexistence……………………………….….…………... 133 - Between Glory and Neglect: Hadar’s Masada Scene……………………………………... 133 - Masada Scene from Outside………………………………………………………………………... 140 - Moving In: Home in the City, Apartments and Neighbors……………………………... 144 - Masada’s People and Sites …………………………………………………………………………. 153 - Discussion………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 186 CHAPTER 4 Senses of Belonging in Hadar.…………………………………………………….. 188 - Reflecting as Belonging………………………………………………………………………………. 188 - Neighborhood Indigeneity and Senses