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Popular Resistance in Palestine: “One hand can’t clap”. Marwan Darweish Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations Coventry University Marwan.Darweish@coventry.ac.uk. Israel : 415 x 16-122 kms West Bank: 120 x 32 kms . Gaza Strip: 40 x 4 kms. Images: Construction of wall.
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Popular Resistance in Palestine:“One hand can’t clap” Marwan Darweish Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations Coventry University Marwan.Darweish@coventry.ac.uk
Israel: 415 x 16-122 kms West Bank: 120 x 32 kms. Gaza Strip: 40 x 4 kms.
Understanding of NVR • Dependent power • Identifying and undermining ‘pillars’ of support • Raising the costs of regime policies • Collective civilian resistance against occupation
Pre-requisites for popular resistance • Strong sense of solidarity throughout the subject population; no vertical and horizontal divisions, strong networks of CBOs • Organisational resilience; unified leadership, clear strategy, coordinated movement, experienced practitioners, weak movement advocating violence, achievable goals. • External support from state and non state actors; exercise leverage over occupying power, resources
Long history of NV • Six month strike in 1936 • Palestinians inside Israel: struggle to end military rule 1948-66 • First Intifada 1987
Three types of NVR • Response to the construction of the Wall • Counter the establishment of settlements • Resilience to stay in the land (Area C)
Activities Defence of people as they pursue their daily lives: Accompaniment, protection, documentation, advocacy and legal Defence of land and property:Demonstrations, reclaim land, confrontation Enhance the resilience of communities: Stay, meet basic needs Offensive activities to make cost high for Israel: occupy, block, prevent, destroy equipment and boycott goods
Challenges • Political fracture....crisis of leadership and trust • Political fracture....different networks • Lack of strategy and vision to inform activists • Lack of coordination: two activities in Bilien and Hebron • Cynicism about motivation and competition • Created sense of resignation...whatever we do and the world will ignore us
Lack of hope in populer resistanceNGO-isation of civil society org Sanctions and intimidation by IsraelInability to win support from Israeli societySigns of hope?Emergence of international solidarity movement with the Pal struggle DBS