Non-Violent Social Movements: The Intifada

Despite the current deterioration of the situation in the region, the First Intifada was able to achieve three things that have changed the nature of the conflict ever since. For one, the Intifada brought the violence and poverty amidst which most Palestinians live to the attention of a previously oblivious international community. Scenes of Israeli tanks and soldiers shooting unarmed women and children did much to weaken the previous 'invincibility' of the Israeli narrative of fighting terrorism. The conflict showed the brutality that both sides were capable of and showed the rest of the world the dire geo-political consequences of letting the conflict spin out of control. The Intifada also achieved the first major internationally-brokered dialogue between the warring sides, leading to the Madrid Conference and culminating in the Oslo Accords. These diplomatic successes are of particular note for they are the first time that both sides recognized each other and officially committed to the two-state solution. Finally, the Intifada led to the end of the meddling of other Arab states in Palestinian affairs. The severing of Jordanian financial and military ties at the end of the conflict allowed the PLO to become the sole representative of the Palestinian people.Thus, for the first time since 1947 the Palestinians were finally able to represent themselves and their own interests. 

The First Intifada had severe effects on both Palestinian and Israeli society. Palestinians were shown that unity and cooperation were extremely difficult, but the results of such a movement were relatively successful in the grand scheme of things. However, as a result of extensive subversion conducted by the Israeli military, a broad sense of mistrust and disunity characterized Palestinian society by the end of the conflict. On the Israeli side, the societal consequences were even more profound. The shattering of the image of Israel as righteous and fair in its actions along with the complete failure of the "Iron Fist" policy shook national self-confidence to its core. A large portion of Israelis began to openly question the government's response and this led to the severe weakening of the Rabin government. The most serious point to note is that for the first time, and irrevocably, through the brutal images broadcast around the world, the international community began to question the policies of the Israeli state. Thus, the Intifada brought the strife of the Palestinian people into the living rooms of the West, changing perceptions of the conflict forever,