Structured Response #6

Traditionally a warrior people, the Pathans of the Northwest Frontier formed “the Servants of God” under Khan Abdul Ghaffir Khan or the “frontier Gandhi.” The group played a large role, especially in the early 1930s, in the Pakistani independence movement. However, this intifada had a direct result on developments throughout the Middle East, specifically Israel and Palestine. It brought the world’s attention to the region and forced Israel to address specifically the issue of its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza strip.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, the unsuccessful violent approach of Palestinians began to shift to forms of non-violent struggle. Liberation groups began to use tactics of the Intifada. Peaceful protests, boycotts, strikes, tax refusals occupations and blockades were all employed nonviolently. Even after decades of violence, the Palestinian Liberation Organization formally renounced the use of violence in 1988. Almost instantly, results were seen. Countries such as Jordan acknowledged the Palestinian state, giving up their authority of the West Bank, and exerting pressure on other countries to do the same.  A Declaration of Independence was drawn up, and it became much easier for the Palestinian people to mobilize in a more organized fashion. Palestine created a list of objectives. The country needed to mobilize its majority against the Israeli state, making it less appealing to both parties to continue the occupation as well as increasing international sympathy for the Palestinian cause. Calculated decisions and organized protest replaced senseless violence and produced far better and more widespread results.

The results were not all good, however. The intifada turns out to be a bit of a double edged sword. With each small success comes a small sense of hopelessness. It calls to mind the fact that years of struggle still lie ahead for the nation. Maintaining cohesion within their communities proves to be challenging, as it is not easy to remain nonviolent in such a frustrating struggle. It seemed that Palestine, rather than wagging its own nonviolent war, was simply responding to the acts of Israel, constantly on the defensive.  

Though the Israeli government has not adopted nonviolent methods, the people of Israel protest their government peacefully. Over a tenth of the country’s population demonstrated against their government’s occupation of Lebanon in 1982. Israeli intellectuals routinely risk arrest for secretly meeting with the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Israeli soldiers join movements in which they refuse to serve in occupied areas. Although the government receives widespread criticism from within its country, the overarching support of the United States government allows the country to side step the full effects of its violations of human rights and international law. The fight is ongoing, however, and great strides continue to be made by nonviolent protesters within the nation.