The Space of Sovereignty: Dahmash – A Chronology of an Unrecognized Village

This article offers a critical discussion of the spatial and political dimensions of Dahmesh, an un-recognized Arab village within the boundaries of the city of Lod, which is the subject of a prolonged legal struggle for recognition. The article suggests that the phenomenon of unrecognized villages cannot be seen solely as a product of planning policies; rather, it should be understood in the context of the construction of Israeli sovereignty. Using different documents produced as part of the Dahmesh residents’ legal struggle, the authors show how the legal debate is shaped in such a way that it cannot be brought to conclusion. This persistent non-decision is analyzed in light of Carl Schmitt’s concept of sovereign decision, claiming that the reluctance to bring the debate to an end is a practice meant to “stretch” the moment of decision in order to allow the continuous presence of the sovereign in the political space. According to this theory, the spaces produced by this practice are “spaces of sovereignty,” and their existence can be understood as a result of the tension between sovereign decisions and norms as restraining forces. The authors conclude with thoughts regarding the function of postponement in actions of resistance.