The Current Case For Palestinian Non-violent Direct Action

[Resistance]

http://english.daralhayat.com/opinion/07-2003/Article-20030706-38956382-c0a8-01ed-006f-947b28365333/story.html

Based on widespread and lengthy interactions with parties on both sides of the conflict in Israel/Palestine, I am convinced that massive, confrontational, nonviolent direct action (NVDA) is the optimal, and perhaps the only method that will lead to a just and equitable resolution. This is an extraordinarily controversial view, within both the Palestinian and Israeli publics, because each side has been conditioned to believe that violence will ultimately lead to victory, despite almost a century of data disproving that belief.

For many years, the Israeli government (perhaps fearing the power of NVDA) has taken extreme measures to make sure that such actions do not take widespread root among Palestinians, including recent deportations and refusal-of-entry of nonviolent activists. This, in itself, should capture the attention of Palestinian strategists.

What are the advantages of nonviolent direct action?

Sharp, Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. have described several advantages of NVDA. First, NVDA works as a force for empowering people, and it contributes to the diffusion of power throughout society. The choice of violent or nonviolent action may also have significant effects on the type of leadership likely to arise in the movement, and to carry over into the post-struggle society. Violence tends to result in a more brutal, less democratic leadership than does NVDA. The opponent tends to be more limited in the means of repression that they may use against NVDA than against violent action, since it is very difficult (though not impossible) to use violence against someone who refuses to use violence in return. Individuals who are trained in violence expect, and are prepared for, a violent response.

Refusing to respond as expected changes the psychological "playing field" and creates conditions in which creative NVDA can prevail. Also, NVDA tends to win more sympathy and support, both within the camp of the opponent and with third parties. NVDA causes the violence of the opponent's repression to be exposed in the worst possible light, which in turn leads to shifts in opinion and consequent shifts in power
relationships favorable to the nonviolent group. This concept is crucial, as I cannot see how the Palestinians can prevail without the weight of world opinion on their side. Also, violent confrontation sends a very strong psychological invitation to respond in kind. Finally, NVDA allows for a reasonable exit strategy. As Gandhi said, "We will win our freedom and our captors in the process."

(snipped the rest - follow link for more)

[GabysPoppy]

1. Time for a reality check

I cannot disagree in principle with a word this gentleman is saying. Do you think the Palestinian terrorist organizations will be seeking his advice in the future? Do you think they would have followed his advice 3 years ago?

Their motives and agenda has been always the same thing. Drive Israel into the sea. NVDA would never accomplish that goal. I believe they have put the Palestinian people through hell and beyond because of this agenda. Their negotiating(?) for a peace and truce today I believe has sinister motives. I hope and wish to be proven wrong but the proof will be in the deeds and not in the words.

I don't buy the equation that 10 suicide bombers is offset by medical deeds for their people. I am referring to Hamas right now. As for the Al-Aksa brigade, they are nothing but the extension of Arafat's wishes and whims. I do not buy the story that Arafat has no control of these monsters. Where do you think they get their financing?

It is sad to say but NVDA in this case in this time is but a dream.

[Resistance]

2. so let me get this straight

you are against non-violent resistance to the racist occupation, yet, you are also against use of violence in retaliation for Israel's aggression against Palestinians.

What exactly then do you expect of Palestinians? Total submission to Israel's hostile schemes of dispossession and ethnic cleansing?

[GabysPoppy]

3. Had you read the article and my response

Their would be no need for your question. But I would hardly expect you to do either. Your response here and your responses in the USS Liberty thread are too indicative of an "Israel is always wrong" attitude that makes discussion with you pointless and worthless in my opinion.

[Resistance]

4. It was a direct question

which has nothing to do with your opinion of me.

Again, since you reject both violent and non-violent means of resistance to Israel's aggression, what do you propose the Palestinians do other than completely capitulate to Israel's demands?

[Lithos]

5. Resistance

(GabysPoppy, please correct me if I am wrong).

GP's first post answered your question and has said absolutely nothing about personally rejecting NVDA. Rather, his view is that while he supports NVDA as being an ideal means to approach a political solution, in practice he believes the current, dominant Palestinian groups are more focused on achieving a violent goal, the extermination of Israel, through a heavily aggressive and armed struggle and are not likely to ever philosophically accept a change to non-violent methods.

The obvious extension of this statement is that the Palestinians must first reject en-masse as politically viable the current militaristic groups who are representing them and embrace a different set of groups set on following a non-violent course of action.

[Resistance]

6. now those are interesting points, Lithos

of course extermination of Israel has never been a real threat, as admitted by plenty of former officials of the state - it never has been, and isn't now; still this pervasive myth continues to be a useful tool in pretending that Israel's ethnic cleansing and dispossession are merely 'defensive' measures. Why the need to pretend? To collect a check from the duped American taxpayers who are raised in the church of Israel-worship.

The questions we need to be asking are of ourselves: when are we going to end our own terrorism and heavy aggression against a people who's only crime was living on land that Zionists wanted all for themselves? When are we going to accept a non-violent approach (or at least a much less-violent one)? When are we going to take responsibility for our own actions, instead of heaping as much blame as we can on the victims of our hostilities? Do we want to stop terrorism? Then we need to stop engaging in it. Do we want peace? Then we ourselves need to work towards that goal, not against it.

The rapist finds ways to blame his victim. "She asked for it" or "she shouldn't have fought it" they will say, to justify the crime. The US and Israel are the rapists and the Palestinian people are their victims. We must face these harsh realities if we can ever expect Palestinians to face their own issues. I know people might be so horrified to read these very words but it is time for a serious wake up call.

Stop the aggression against Arabs and Moslems. They are not deserving of your anger and hatred. Stop it in Iraq. Stop it in Palestine. Stop it now.

[Lithos]

7. I wouldn't call it a unilateral problem

If you must go into psychological definitions, rape is not appropriate as it is a singular event as well as unilateral. The problem is obviously bilateral.

I would say instead Israel and Palestine are closer to being Adult Children of a dysfunctional family. Instead of rape, they are both guilty of extreme physical and emotional abuse to each other. Check out the following characteristics of a dysfunctional family:

· extreme rigidity in family rules
· little or no communication
· high levels of tension and/or arguing
· extended periods of silence
· blame and avoidance as primary coping mechanisms
· overall message of "don’t feel, don’t talk, don’t trust"

(From: http://www.counseling.swt.edu/dysfunctional_family.htm).

The basic solution for being dysfunctional is to not try and fix the other person, but to work on yourself.