Dispersing Events in East Jerusalem: Harm to Culture and Community

By: Warda Sada

The dispersal of cultural events is not unique to Jerusalem. Authoritarian and totalitarian regimes throughout history have acted in similar ways:

Nazi Germany

Canceled plays and books deemed “non-German,” and restricted cultural life according to the official ideology.

The Soviet Union under Stalin

Performances and musical events were removed if they did not align with party doctrine; artists who deviated were severely punished.

China – The Cultural Revolution

Theaters were closed and “bourgeois” cultural activities restricted, depriving children and youth of opportunities.

Spain under Franco

Imposed censorship on literature and theater, and banned public events that did not conform to the regime’s policies.

Clear Parallels

Common patterns include:

• Dispersal of “innocent” events

• Control over public space

• Damage to the community’s sense of belonging and freedom

The difference is that events in East Jerusalem are not explicitly ideological, yet the cultural and social impact is similar — a sense of restricted freedom and reduced opportunities for personal and communal development.

Conclusion

The dispersal of cultural events in East Jerusalem is not merely a temporary cancellation of activities — it is a harmful blow to culture, to children, and to the local community. This pattern reflects restrictions on the public sphere and raises concerns of alienation and limited freedoms — an outcome well-known from the history of authoritarian regimes around the world.