A new report examines how Israel’s use of visual and architectural control—through signage, road networks, and urban design—reinforces a narrative that Palestinians are outsiders in their own territory. By prioritizing Hebrew over Arabic in public spaces and shaping landscapes to emphasize Israeli sovereignty, these strategies subtly but systematically undermine Palestinian presence and identity. Critics argue the approach extends beyond policy to psychological domination, reshaping daily life for Palestinians in ways that feel both inescapable and deeply personal. The tactics highlight how physical environments can be weaponized to alter perceptions of belonging and ownership.
Israel's visual colonisation aims to make Palestinians feel like guests in their own homeland.
