Navigating identity and class in ethnocratic cities: Palestinian middle-class neighborhoods in Haifa

This research explores how a Palestinian middle-class neighborhood in the mixed city of Haifa has been perceived by its residents over the past decade, situating these perceptions within a broader sociopolitical and urban context shaped by ethnonational power relations. Drawing on questionnaires and interviews, it examines residents’ satisfaction, their intentions to move, and their engagement with municipal policies and neighborhood development processes. The findings reveal a tension between class position and ethno-national identity that constrains their spatial mobility. This dynamic is embedded in Haifa’s urban structure and the neighborhood’s connection to the historic Palestinian urban network, which continues to influence its planning trajectory. In-depth interviews with neighborhood committee members and municipal representatives further illuminate how residents interpret spatial trends and municipal policy in the city. Together, the results demonstrate how urban policies and sociopolitical power relations are reflected in residents’ lived experiences, contributing to the critical urban literature on marginalized middle-class neighborhoods.