Palestinian Popular Struggle: Unarmed and Participatory (Routledge Studies on the Arab-Israeli Conflict)

Palestinian Popular Struggle challenges conventional thinking about political action and organization. It offers an alternative to the seemingly failed tracks of armed struggle and diplomatic negotiations. A discourse of rights and global justice helps bridge national and religious divides, drawing Jewish Israelis and diverse supporters from around the world to participate in direct-action campaigns on the ground in the West Bank. The movement has some important achievements and continues to offer innovative approaches to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. This book summarizes Palestinian traditions of popular struggle and presents original field research from the West Bank, drawing on several months of participant observation, over twenty-five hours of recorded interviews with Palestinian activists, and more than 200 questionnaires gaging public perceptions about the strategies of the popular committees. One of the book's major case studies is the village of Nabi Saleh, which recently became well known when one of its activists, a sixteen-year-old girl named Ahed Tamimi, was imprisoned for slapping Israeli soldiers outside her family home. The book offers insight into new waves of Palestinian popular protest, from the 2017 prayer protests in Jerusalem to the 2018 march of return in Gaza. Palestinian Popular Struggle is a valuable resource for researchers and students interested in War and Conflict Studies, Politics and the Middle East. Palestinian Popular Struggle Challenges Conventional Thinking About Political Action And Organization. Unarmed And Participatory, It Offers An Alternative To The Seemingly Failed Tracks Of Armed Struggle And Diplomatic Negotiations. With A Discourse Of Rights And Social Justice, Community-based Popular Committees Overcome National And Religious Divides, Drawing Jewish Israelis And Diverse Supporters From Around The World To Participate In Direct-action Campaigns On The Ground In The West Bank. These Campaigns Include Weekly Friday Demonstrations, Building Camps On Threatened Land, Reclaiming Lost Villages, Disrupting Settler Commerce, And More. This Book Summarizes Palestinian Traditions Of Popular Struggle And Presents Original Field Research From The West Bank, Drawing On Several Months Of Participant Observation, Over 25 Hours Of Recorded Interviews With Palestinian Activists, And More Than 200 Questionnaires Gaging Public Perceptions About The Strategies Of The Popular Committees. One Of The Book's Major Case Studies Is The Village Of Nabi Saleh, Which Recently Became Well Known When One Of Its Activists, A 16-year-old Girl Named Ahed Tamimi, Was Imprisoned For Slapping Israeli Soldiers Outside Her Family Home. The Book Offers Insight Into New Waves Of Palestinian Popular Protest, From The 2017 Prayer Protests In Jerusalem To The 2018 March Of Return In Gaza. Palestinian Popular Struggle Is A Valuable Resource For Researchers And Students Interested In War And Conflict Studies, Politics And The Middle East. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Preface Acknowledgments Transcription and transliteration Arabic terms and alternative transliterations List of Acronyms Introduction Contending views of power Ethics, methodology, outline Notes References Chapter 1: Palestinian popular struggle Prelude Roots and branches People and stones Notes References Chapter 2: Intifada of the Stones Eve of the uprising A golden age of resistance Oslo and the end of popular struggle Note References Chapter 3: Popular struggle against the wall Return of the popular committees Friday protests and media savvy Notes References Chapter 4: Global vision and new partners Local and global Enter NGOs and old leaders Nabi Saleh and the lost spring Notes References Chapter 5: Direct action beyond the villages New sites, new tactics 2011: another lost spring? Action beyond the wall Notes References Chapter 6: Popular committees and participatory deficits Then and now Decision-making, leadership, exclusions Constructive work: land, media, and more The curse of money (and other obstacles) Notes References Conclusion Summary Implications Note References Appendix 1 Field research overview 2 Interview data 3 Questionnaire data Data charts Aggregate data from all 201 questionnaires “National struggle should be mostly organized and led by” Index This book explores the complex interplay of action and organization in Palestinian civil resistance against the Israeli military occupation, as well as the wider implications for theory and practice. The author argues that Palestinian struggle has been most effective when it has been unarmed.