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Resistance through non-violence in Palestine: An effective strategy to support
an article by Ziad Medoukh
The recent Israeli evacuation by force of two
small peaceful rallies in the tents at Bab chams -
the Sun Gate-and the Dignity at Karama - rallies
organized by dozens of Palestinian militants near
Jerusalem to protest against the construction of
Israeli settlements on Palestinian-owned land,
show that the popular struggle is able to achieve
our national goals, and that non-violence can
always be an effective strategy to fight against
the Israeli occupation of our Palestinian
territories.
click on photo to enlarge
The most important aspect of these events is the
determination of the activists. Despite the
brutality of the occupation forces and despite
their eviction, they came back several times and
by different ways to the place where they had been
evicted. They have not only hung Palestinian
flags, but they even erected tents. Their means
have remained non-violent despite the various
attacks and arrests by the Israelis. Their actions
are a strong indicator of the ability of
Palestinians to develop their peaceful activities
against the occupation forces and against
colonization and confiscation of their land.
These outstanding actions are in addition to the
various activities organized regularly by dozens
of Palestinians, especially in the West Bank, near
the Apartheid Wall and on the lands confiscation
by the Israeli army. There are fewer actions in
the Gaza Strip, with only a few protests against
the security buffer zone imposed by the Israeli
army in the northern Gaza Strip.
The mass media, including the Palestinian media,
have not talked a lot about these peaceful actions,
and the political parties and factions, even the
official Palestinian institutions have not supported
these kinds of actions.
The media are not interested in this type of
resistance, they are looking for war, death, and
violence, and they are eager for such events, as we
have seen during the recent Israeli aggression
against the Gaza Strip last November.
The Palestinian National Authority is very
involved in the negotiations and peace process
with the Israeli side, a process that is a
complete failure twenty years after the Oslo
Accords. Israel has never applied any of the peace
agreements, or any international resolution, and
this is supported by the complicit silence of the
international community in the face of the ongoing
Israeli violations.
The Palestinian factions are divided on the choice
of a single form of armed resistance, and they
have no consensus. Other forms of resistance have
shown their inefficiency, not to mention the total
imbalance of military means employed between the
Israeli and these factions.
The problem is that non-violent resistance is not
supported or encouraged by the Authority, and
these factions. This resistance develops as a
result of citizens' initiatives and individual
commitment with no real strategy or long term
planning or organization . The non-violent
actions, despite their importance, are of short
duration and occasional.
We are occupied, and we have the legitimate right
to resist by all means against this occupation
that assassinates, kills and colonizes every day.
Non-violent resistance could help the Palestinians
to put an end to this colonial occupation.
(This article is continued in the discussionboard)
(Click here for a French version of this article)
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DISCUSSION
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LATEST READER COMMENT:
(The following is continued from the main article listed above.)
The current situation in the Palestinian territories is marked by the absence of projects, total despair and continued installation of Israeli settlements. An inhumane blockade been imposed for more than seven years on the one and a half million Gazans.
In the West Bank the apartheid wall separates Palestinians from their villages and lands, not to mention the acceleration of colonization, checkpoints and enforcement actions taken by the occupation.
Faced with this situation, in their struggle against the occupation and their demand for their national rights, the Palestinians, despite their determination and various forms of resistance, have failed to realize their expectations: they
continue to be occupied and to see their land confiscated land by the Israeli settlers.
Our situation is influenced by many events happening in our region and in the world, which make the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict very difficult. It will take a real reflection on the part of all the Palestinian organizations to find a lasting solution to our conflict with the Israelis.
We Palestinians must organize ourselves, to live up to our own hopes and those of others around the world who are in solidarity with our cause. We are trying to offer an alternative by means of non-violence, even if the Israeli occupation
continues its aggressive and violent against our people.
Resistance through non-violence is neither known nor approved by many Palestinians because it is not publicized, it is not supported, it is not a priority for the Authority and factions. However, it needs to be organized and to be practiced by the Palestinian citizens who can not remain indifferent to the confiscation of their land and their daily suffering.
It is true that the Palestinians resist daily by their strength and attachment to their land despite all Israeli aggression. But they must develop resistance against the settlers and against Israeli soldiers who come regularly on the territories that do not belong to them.
Non-violent action, contrary to what most people think, is the most difficult choice, because it requires technical coordination, cooperation and a real determination to be effective and deliver results more useful than recourse to violence. Non-violence is part of the popular mobilization that actually scares the occupying forces. Israel prefers the armed struggle and factions, because it is an excuse to bomb and attack to crush the Palestinians. It is precisely the development of non-violent struggle by the Palestinian people that Israel fears most for their image.
That is why we believe that the most important challenge for the Palestinians is to practice non-violent resistance, because this form of resistance not only develops human dignity, but ensures the independence and capacity of its supporters to endure retaliation and to fight against all forms of injustice.
The option of non-violence requires sacrifice, and, of course, it also requires patience. But our people are known for their ability to endure sacrifices for the land of Palestine. And above all we is known for our patience. For over 65 years, our people are suffering and despite all this, we resist and we remain hopeful. Yes, life goes on in Palestine.
The most important thing for us now is to try to mobilize public opinion in the world so that it is in solidarity with our noble cause and to get there, we need a change in our politics. We must encourage participation of the entire Palestinian society in the development of our future national project.
This means that we need to highlight the non-violent actions organized in Palestine, so that the world knows that the Palestinians are aware of this concept civilized as people occupied defending their land, their freedom and independence.
And finally,it means that the duty of the international community should be to support the movement of non-violence in Palestine, not only to know about the non-violent actions, but also to boycott Israeli products in an international civic and institutional campaign and boycott the apartheid state.
This is why the choice of the Palestinian resistance of non-violence, with an effective and well-defined popular mobilization and official support on the one hand, and a boycott from the outside, remains a possible solution as a form of resistance to Israeli occupation in order
to achieve our national goals and our aspirations to live in freedom and peace in our land.>
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