Non-Violent Movements: The Intifada

During the Intifada, Palestinians focused the bulk of their efforts on nonviolent resistance. As Zunes notes, the Intifada employed strategic use of boycotts, strikes, tax refusals, and alternative institutions. Although the movement did not fully accomplish its goals, it made headway in both Palestine and Israel, transforming the way the relations and communications are achieved today. Despite its outcome, the Intifada succeeded in forcing Jordan to relinquish strongholds over the West Bank, persuading the PLO to take political initiative, igniting seeds of doubt in the minds of Israelis, and mobilizing and empowering Palestinians. 

The Intifada challenged the social structure and organization of Palestinian society as a whole. First of all, the movement paved the way for a new role of women in society. Women began to have a more public role in their participation in the national struggle and began to openly call themselves feminists. This allowed for women to not only participate in the movement to a greater degree, but for the first time call for an agenda that catered to a civil code that promoted equality. Additionally, the Intifada initially provided for a strong sense of local organization and unity. Palestinians were able to band together to coordinate nonviolent actions and such demonstrations empowered the people. However, as the movement grew over time, oppressive violent action against Palestinians only served to increase thereby demoralizing the people of the occupied territories and causing tactics to become reactionary rather than progressive.

Looking at the Israeli society, government, and army as a whole, the Intifada created a prevailing mentality of confusion. Among the general populace, the images of nonviolent peoples being attacked, arrested, and prosecuted by armed soldiers challenged the notion that the occupation was vital to Israeli security. In turn, the Israeli populace exerted greater pressures on their government to withdraw from the occupied territory and subsequently gave rise to groups such as the 21s Year. The military echoed the moral concerns of Israeli society, however, there was no serious dissent. The government while seemingly opening more channels of communication with Palestinians through multiple accords generated justifications to fail to live up to their agreements. While the Intifada initially made headway by empowering Palestinians and shocking Israelis, ultimately, the movement failed to accomplish its end game. Hopefully, however, the nonviolent movement laid the foundations for an eventual solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.