Jerusalem includes stone-throwing, transit bottles, riots, the Al-Aqsa Mosque - but not just these.
East Jerusalem has long been a much more complex and multi-dimensional story.
Along with conflicts, there is also a growing integration within the Israeli education system, a choice of Israeli matriculation is growing over the Palestinian one.
A huge amount of Hebrew studies.
There has also been a dramatic 47% increase in the last four years in the number of residents seeking to make their status as a full citizen of the State of Israel.
We identify here two contradictory trends.
On the one hand, there is a growing trend of intensifying the conflict with Israel, and on the other hand, a reverse trend of increasing integration within academia, within employment and within Israeli society.
The common spaces for Jews and Arabs in the capital are becoming more common, more intimate, both in hospitals, in academia and in places of employment.
Nablus Gate in East Jerusalem (Archive), Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
We understand that within the public in East Jerusalem there is an internal struggle, sometimes within the neighborhood itself, within the clan itself, and sometimes even within the family itself.
It is a struggle between the desire to integrate and the national identity and religious identity, which limits and reduces the scope of integration.
In this steadfast struggle, which often takes place within the soul of man himself, there is not necessarily a clear victory for one of the parties.
In the evening, young people can confront the police forces at the Nablus Gate, and the next morning learn the Hebrew language or go to the Ministry of the Interior and apply to become a resident and become a full citizen of the State of Israel.
This dichotomous trend, and the opposites of conflict alongside integration, are probably what we will continue to see in East Jerusalem.
It is worthwhile and important and right to continue to follow what is happening in this area.
The author is the director of the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Studies
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us