Soldiering Under Occupation : Processes of Numbing Among Israeli Soldiers in the Al-Aqsa Intifada

Often, violent behavior or harassment from a soldier is dismissed by the military as unacceptable acts by individuals termed, “rotten apples.” In this study, the author argues that this dismissal is unsatisfactory and that there is an urgent need to look at the (mis)behavior of soldiers from a structural point of view. When soldiers serve as an occupational force, they find themselves in a particular situation influenced by structural circumstances that heavily influence their behavior and moral decision-making. This study focuses on young Israeli men and their experiences as combat soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), particularly those who served in the “Occupied Palestinian Territories” (OPT) during the “Al Aqsa __Intifada__,” which broke out in 2000. In describing the soldiers’ circumstances, especially focusing on space, the study shows how processes of numbing on different levels influence the (moral) behavior of these soldiers. Contents List of Figures Acknowledgements Preface Chapter 1 Introduction: Understanding Israeli Soldiers Chapter 2 Studying Soldiers Chapter 3 Checkpoints, Arrests and Patrols: Spaces of Occupation Chapter 4 Performing as Occupiers: Operational Dynamics Chapter 5 Tired, Bored and Scared: Emotional, Physical and Cognitive Numbing Chapter 6 Blurring Morals: the Numbed Moral Competence of Soldiers Chapter 7 Morality in Speech: Discursive Strategies of Soldiers Chapter 8 Conclusion References Index