The key strategy of peaceful resistance is to sway world opinion. By resisting and showing your unhappiness with the current system one expresses to the outside world your determination to bring about change. At the same time by not using violence to achieve your means one proves the just and worthy nature of your cause. Often the oppresor attempts to use violence to force cooperation, but that tactic merely serves to sway world opinion even more towards the oppressed rather than the oppressor. For these reasons non-violent non-cooperation is an effective tactic.
Outlining the problems that are causing the conflict between Israel and Palestine is a long and difficult process due to the length and ferocity of the divisions. The Israeli’s have many reasons for their difficulty in dealing with the Palestinians. They have many goals for which they are not willing to budge. They desire to have a buffer zone between themselves and their rival neighbors (Polk 218). The bordering Arab nations of Syria, Jordan, Sudan and Saudi Arabia are all potential enemies of Israel. On two separate occasions these Arab nations excepting Saudi Arabia have surprise attacked Israel. On both occasions the Israeli’s defeated their Arab neighbors with superior technology and strategy. “The Israelis had demonstrated conclusively that a modern nation can muster and deploy power on a different scale of effectiveness and quality than can underdeveloped countries. Its soldiers were not supermen but were highly motivated, well trained, and excellently led.” (Polk 219) The lands they have captured from these wars make up the majority of the disputed land under Israeli control. The Golan Heights the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are the main points of conflict remaining between Israel and the neighboring Arab States. These territories serve as buffers between Israel and possible invasion by Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Israel feels they need these territories for military protection. (Polk 221)
There are additional reasons for Israeli occupation of captured territory. Many of the suicide bombers recently attacking Israel have come for the West Bank. By controlling these territories the Israelis hope to limit the number of suicide bombers who slip through into the Jewish homeland (Battle for the Holy Land). In addition these territories are a matter of national pride. They are symbols of the Israel’s defeat of the invading Arab nations during the Six Day War and the War of Yom Kippur (Polk 222). Recently water rights have become an additional reason for Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Much of Israel’s water comes through the West Bank, and the Israelis are afraid of losing control over their water supply as this is a vital resource in the Middle East (Battle for the Holy Land). For all these reasons the Israelis are unwilling to abandon their control of the occupied lands of the Golan Heights, West Bank and the Gaza Strip (Polk 226).
Now on the other side are the reasons for the Palestinians desire for independence. There are millions of Palestinian refugees who are living in camps inside the West Bank and in neighboring Syria and Jordan. (Polk 221) These refugees wish to return to their homes inside Palestine. They believe that if the Israelis leave the West Band and allow the creation of a separate Palestinian state then the refugees will be able to rebuild (Battle for the Holy Land). Another reason for the creation of an independent state is the Palestinian belief that they are treated unfairly by the Israeli government. This belief has led to their struggle to create an independent state since the fifties (Battle for the Holy Land). The most important reason for the bombings within Israel is due to the Arab’s outright hatred for the Jewish people (Polk 218). Many Arabs view the Jews as invaders and heretics. The Arab states in the Middle East have fought for the complete eradication of the Jewish state since its beginning. Many believe that even the creation of a separate Palestinian state would not end all the violence in the Middle East due to the Arabs deep hatred of the Jews. (Polk 217-221)
In order to more fully understand the present increase in the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians one must understand the leaders of the two groups. The Israelis are led by their Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Palestinian forces are led ostensibly by Yasir Arafat (Battle for the Holy Land). Ariel Sharon was recently elected as Prime Minister on a platform of increased military strength and conservatism. He supports the continued existence of buffer territories and he believes that military occupation of refugee camps and occupied territory will decrease the frequency of suicide bombings (Battle for the Holy Land). He is very unlikely to order the withdrawal from captured territories, especially the West Bank.
Yasir Afafat is considered to be the leader of Palestine, but in reality he has little control over the Palestinian people. The Palestinian Liberation Organization was headed by Arafat during his early years, and this is where he gained much of his influence (Battle for the Holy Land). He is very respected within Palestine, but he has no actual control. Many times he has ordered the cessation of bombings with no effect. He has exhibited is lack of control, but still he remains the only figurehead of the Palestinian resistance and fore this reason his views are still important (Battle for the Holy Land). He fights for an independent West Bank led by himself. He believes that the Palestinians are able to govern themselves, and he claims that bombing would stop if Palestine became an independent state. Arafat’s most important support comes from Europe were he is viewed as a humanitarian and peacekeeper (Battle for the Holy Land). Currently international support is on his side due in large part to Arafat himself.
Recent escalation in the conflict has occurred since September 11th. Averages of thirty Israelis a week have been killed since the resurgence of suicide bombings following the Twin Towers Bombing (Battle for the Holy Land). Many of Arafat’s attempts to halt the bombings have failed due to his lack of control. World support initially swung towards the Israelis due to their loss of life because of the bombings.
The Israeli response to the increased bombings was swift and brutal. Ramallah, the capital of Palestine, was placed under siege and Arafat was cordoned off in his compound (Battle for the Holy Land). Troops were moved in to limit the movement of terrorists and Palestinian security officers. Massacres in the refugee camps were reported (Battle for the Holy Land). World support now swings towards the Palestinians as they are viewed as being oppressed by the superior Israeli military.
Various groups throughout the world have attempted to bring a peaceful conclusion to the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but none have succeeded. Recently Secretary of State Colin Powell visited Israel in an attempt to bring a close to the war (Battle for the Holy Land). Both sides took firm positions that left little room for compromise. The Palestinians promised the end of the suicide bombings if the Israelis withdrew from the West Bank and allowed the creation of an independent Palestinian state. The Israelis promised to withdraw and allow the creation an independent Palestine if the Palestinians first stopped the suicide bombings (Battle for the Holy Land). Neither side is willing to take the first step toward peace. For these reasons there appears to be a stalemate that neither side is willing to break. (Oz 119)
Whichever side ever side makes the first step towards peace will gain massive world support. However, at this time Arafat is unable to control his people, so a first move on the side of the Palestinians would be impossible. If the Israelis make the first step towards peace and withdraw from the West Bank the bombing will likely continue and perhaps increase, as there is less control over their movement. Because neither move is capable of achieving peace a third option must be introduced. A leader within Palestine must begin to advocate non-violent non-cooperation. If peaceful resistance were to be used, instead of terrorist bombings, world support would swing towards the Palestinians and the Israelis would be forced to relinquish control over the West Bank. The Israelis in turn would be pleased due to the cessation of the suicide bombings. The creation of a separate Palestinian State would be achieved, as has long been sought (Sareni 91) This tactic as taught be Gandhi of non-violent non-cooperation is the only reasonable and effective means of settling the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians in a manner beneficial to both.
One possible solution that may come about if the Palestinians don’t embrace non-violent non-cooperation is the murder and deportation of all Palestinians living inside Israel. The Israeli citizens are becoming increasingly more militaristic as the bombings continue, and the recent massacres of Palestinians in refugee camps points towards the military’s newest strategy (Battle for the Holy Land). The eradication and deportation of Palestinian nationals is a solution that is undesirable to everybody. The Palestinians would cease to exist as a people, and Israel would become ostracized by the rest of the World for their brutal treatment of the Palestinians. Of the two possible solutions peaceful resistance seems a far better choice than the complete eradication of the Palestinian people.
