bitterlemons-international.org
Middle East Roundtable /
Edition 4 Volume 1
AN ISRAELI VIEW:
Nonviolence in the Abu Mazen era
by Yossi Alpher
This would appear to be an appropriate time to discuss the potential for
Palestinian nonviolence and its ramifications for Israel. First, because
there is a growing number of people and groups in Palestine that believe in
nonviolent struggle against Israel. Secondly, because in a few instances in
the central West Bank in recent months nonviolent demonstrations proved
effective in drawing the attention of the media and the courts to the
injustices of Israel's security fence as originally located at the local,
village level.
Thirdly, the emergence of Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) as leader of the PLO and
leading candidate for the Palestinian Authority presidency points to the
relevancy of nonviolent tactics of resistance. Abu Mazen unequivocally
denounces Palestinian violence as a counterproductive approach; by default,
the only appropriate form of resistance in his eyes would be nonviolence
(coupled with a diplomatic campaign for a peace process congenial to
Palestinian terms). Indeed, if Abu Mazen's current efforts bear fruit and
Palestinians agree to a comprehensive ceasefire, the nonviolent approach may
come to the fore as a means of protest or resistance.
The most famous, and successful, nonviolent campaign in modern history was
led by Mahatma Gandhi in India against the British, and culminated in Indian
independence in 1947. It is generally understood that the campaign succeeded
because, at the end of the day, the British were a civilized occupier that
could not for long stomach shooting at point blank range at masses of
nonviolent Indian demonstrators, and because Gandhi employed effective forms
of economic boycott, and got global publicity.
Are we Israelis a "civilized" occupier? Despite all the casualties we have
inflicted in four years on Palestinian civilians and their property--yes. We
are no worse than any other occupier. But the difference between Israel in
the West Bank and Gaza and the British in India is that even those of us who
oppose the settlements and seek to end the occupation, strongly believe that
we are defending our homes and our families, which have been under intense
and brutal attack, rather than some distant "jewel in the crown" of an
empire.
A veteran Israeli general once related to me how, in 1949, leaders of the
Palestinian refugee population, freshly arrived in Gaza, threatened to
launch a "green march" north up the Mediterranean coast to homes they had
abandoned in Ashdod and Jaffa. The general's response was to threaten to
open fire on the marchers, and the march was cancelled. Today the response
would feature tear gas and rubber bullets, but the principle would be the
same: if the purpose of Palestinian nonviolent tactics were to endanger
Israel and Israelis and rekindle a conflict, it would undoubtedly be opposed
by all available non-lethal means.
On the other hand, it is possible to perceive a nonviolent strategy that
could potentially be successful for Palestinians. Its point of departure
would be the premise that, as the weaker actor, the Palestinians need to
find a more effective tactic of mass resistance than force. The purpose
would be to draw Israeli and international attention to Israeli injustices,
such as the settlements and bypass roads and the roadblocks they engender.
The protest would be confined to the territories, and no Israeli lives or
property would be threatened. The backdrop would be a total absence of
violent attacks against Israelis by organized Palestinian groups like Hamas
and the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, as well as of stone throwing and Molotov
cocktail attacks, which are potentially lethal. And the media would have to
be heavily involved in covering the protest.
If all these conditions were met, a Palestinian nonviolent campaign could be
effective, particularly if Abu Mazen gets a popular mandate for his rule.
Yet this does not appear to be an easy option for Palestinian society under
current social and political conditions.- Published 6/12/2004 (c)
bitterlemons.org
Yossi Alpher is coeditor of bitterlemons.org and
bitterlemons-international.org. He is a former director of the Jaffee Center
for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University and a former senior adviser to
PM Ehud Barak.
Bitterlemons-international.org is an internet
forum for an array of world perspectives on the Middle East and its
specific concerns. It aspires to engender greater understanding about
the Middle East region and open a new common space for world thinkers
and political leaders to present their viewpoints and initiatives on the
region. Editors Ghassan Khatib and Yossi Alpher can be reached at
ghassan@bitterlemons-international.org
and
yossi@bitterlemons-international.org, respectively.
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08-12-2004 |