The Politics of Change in Palestine : State-Building and Non-Violent Resistance

This book contradicts the dominant myth that incompetent, corrupt, and uncompromising Palestinian decision-makers are responsible for the lasting stalemate in the Middle-East Peace Process. It highlights recent political developments in Palestine that fundamentally redefine important parameters of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Contrary to public perception, new political trends in the Palestinian Territories bolster prospects for the realisation of Palestinian national aspirations. Michael Broning identifies key indicators which fundamentally question dominant Israeli narratives and pose an unprecedented strategic challenge to the Israeli leadership. These include the reinvention of Hamas, the reform of the Fatah movement, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's state-building efforts and the surge of non-violent resistance against Israel. This persuasive book forces us to reconsider the perceived wisdom that the Palestinians are powerless to influence events as they struggle for peace. Intro -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Figures, Table and Charts -- Acknowledgements -- List of Abbreviations -- Prologue -- 1 Introduction and Overview -- 1. Progress and Stagnation -- 2. The Myth of a Missing Palestinian Partner -- 3. Change in Palestine -- 2 Hamas in Transition -- 1. 'What is There to Talk About?' -- 2. Changing Hamas: On Theory and Pragmatism -- 3. Embracing Statehood: Hamas in Gaza -- 4. Tremors of Change: 'Hamas 2.0'? -- 5. Prospects for Western Engagement with Hamas -- 3 Changing Fatah -- 1. Looking Back: Ambiguity, Symbolism and Stagnation -- 2. Reinventing Fatah: The Sixth General Conference of 2009 -- 3. Making Fatah Work: The Challenges Ahead -- 4 PNA State-Building: Putting Palestine on the Map -- 1. The 'Fayyad Plan': Parameters of a Technocratic Revolution -- 2. One Year into State-Building: A Preliminary Evaluation -- 3. Turning Wine into Water? The Ambiguities of Fayyadism -- 4. Fayyad: Palestinian Messiah or Traitor to the Cause? -- 5. The 'Big Gamble' -- 5 Beyond Terror: Politicising Non-Violent Resistance -- 1. Non-Violence: The Forgotten Resistance -- 2. Current Trends of Non-Violence -- 3. Non-Violence and Politics: Leaders Start to Follow -- 4. Non-Violence: Does it Work? -- 5. A Hammer Looking for a Nail? Israeli Responses -- 6. Challenges of Non-Violence -- 6 Epilogue -- 7 Appendix -- 1. The Programme of the 13th PNA Government (2009) -- 2. Political Platform of Fatah (2009) -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index "This book contradicts the dominant myth that incompetent, corrupt, and uncompromising Palestinian decision-makers are responsible for the lasting stalemate in the Middle East peace process. It highlights recent political developments in Palestine that fundamentally redefine important parameters of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."--Back cover Highlights the political activity in Palestine that is becoming a national movement challenging Israel