Non-Violent Social Movements

The Palestinian Intifada achieved a lot considering its ultimate failure to rid the West Bank and Gaza of Israeli rule.  According to Zunes, the Intifada used mostly non-violent means to achieve their goals contrary to popular belief.  During the very first year that the Intifada was around, they peacefully forced Jordan to give up authority of the West Bank and to recognize and endorse the Palestinian cause.  The Intifada also helped the Palestine Liberation Organization to gain recognition as a negotiating partner with Israel and the U.S.  Lastly, the Intifada made gains in creating more cooperation among the Palestinian people who lived in the Israeli occupied territory.  Israel made small concessions in 1993 according to these achievements however, the Palestinians ultimately did not get its land back because as Zunes puts it, "Israel [wanted] the land, not the people."

The Intifada impacted many different groups.  The Palestinians completely restructured their societal system by finally showing the Israelis they were no longer willing to cooperate.  Through their non-violence, the Palestinians were not viewed as terrorists anymore, but rather as people with a legitimate national cause.  However, the Palestinians were not only affected positively.  Dajani put it well when he said that the Intifada acted as a "double-edged sword."  While their cause was strengthened through their efforts, they were also more repressed by the Israelis each day.

Lastly, the Israeli people were affected in various ways.  They were initially very taken aback that the Intifada was able to achieve what they did.  They lashed out with violence because they did not want to give up all they had worked to gain in the 1967 war.  The Israelis realized that they were a lot less secure in the Arab world than they had at first thought.  As a result, some Israelis stood with the Intifada because they felt that they're oppression was unjust and was hurting the Israeli government along with the Palestinians.  Others believed more violence was the answer and that is why there is still conflict in this region today.