Nonviolent Change Journal

Dr. Sarraj is a psychiatrist and the founder and director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program.
This is an edited version of the original article in the Palestine-Israel Journal (PIJ): http://www.pij.org, distributed by the Common Ground News Service with permission to republish.

One could say the Palestinian question has become a symbol of the denial of basic human rights. The uprooting of Palestinians in the 1948 „war of independence‰ was and still is the most traumatic human experience that continues to haunt them, since the Israeli military occupation serves as a continuous reminder of the original nakba (catastrophe).

Palestinians are fully entitled to defend their rights and resist the Israeli occupation. There can be no argument against the right of Palestinians to resist the occupation in their quest for freedom. Resistance in all forms against an occupying army is considered a legitimate form of the struggle for freedom worldwide. However, the just cause of the Palestinians does not justify killing Israeli civilians, especially women and children. Such acts against humanity serve only to equate the victim with the aggressor, and undermine the Palestinians‚ moral standing. Islam and all religions are about protecting life. Human dignity is one and undivided. Killing one child on either side is equivalent to murder of all human beings.

Nevertheless, the Palestinians have been driven to a state of hopelessness and despair, the kind of despair that comes from a situation that keeps getting worse, a despair where living becomes no different from dying. Desperation is a very powerful force ˆ it is not only negative, but it can propel people to actions or solutions that would have previously been unthinkable. Who would have imagined suicide bombings in Palestine ten years ago? There is no precedent in our society. One can only assume, therefore, that if the conflict continues, there will be new methods of escalation of violence on both sides too horrific to even imagine today.

The past two years have only proved that Palestinian violence was used as a justification for further Israeli violence and destruction of life and home. Violence has terrorized both communities, deepened the hatred, and radicalized both nations in fear and paranoia. Violence has thrown the two societies into a vicious tribal revenge. People have thus become hostage to politicians and their terror and manipulations.

If there is a solution that is fair ˆ that is, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within June 4, 1967, borders, a shared Jerusalem, a fair solution for the refugees, dismantled settlements ˆ I believe the Palestinians will accept it, and the Israelis, too. If that happened, it would dramatically change the psychology of the people on both sides. But if the Palestinians come out feeling they have been defeated, the solution won‚t last. There will be new and even greater violence, the way each cycle is more violent than the preceding one.

Lessons Learned

There are many lessons learned from the past two years. One is that violence can only breed violence. The suicide bombers of this intifada are the children of the first intifada ˆ people who witnessed a great deal of trauma as children. As they grew up, their own identity merged with the national identity of humiliation and defeat, so they are avenging that defeat at both the personal and national levels.

In the first intifada it was stones at best. In this intifada, it is machine guns, homemade mortars, explosives, and, especially, suicide bombings. Suicide bombing is an act of ultimate despair, a horrific reaction to extremely inhuman conditions in a seriously damaged environment of hopelessness. Suicide bombing is the ultimate cry for help. The next intifada, which will certainly occur in another four to seven years if there is no peaceful solution, will be even worse than we have witnessed in the past two years.

Yet if and when a peace agreement is reached, the violent energy will still be directed inward. In the absence of leadership, vision, guidance, and a national process of reconciliation, we should brace ourselves for a future of internal violence in both societies. It is a proven fact that abused people will turn to abuse others, mainly their children.

The second lesson is that violence, particularly against civilians, can only serve to deepen the fear and insecurity of any given population, thus making it hostage to militaristic propensity, and dependent on, if not identifying with, extremist ideals. In the case of Palestine and Israel, the picture today is very disturbing. Sharon was brought to power by a frightened Israel and by the Palestinian bullet. His reign thrives on Palestinian terror and violence. By the same token, Palestinian militant, Islamic, and secular groups compete for popular support by becoming more and more violent. The Israeli and Palestinian peace camps are thus driven into silence and marginality.

The third and most important lesson is that it is only Palestinians and Israelis who can make peace. Jewish and Palestinian populations in the diaspora can play an important role in this respect.

Non-Violent Resistance is the Best Form of Struggle

Since most Palestinians believe that the best form of resistance is the non-violent form of struggle, both the Palestinian and Israeli masses should rise together against the evils and terrors of war. The ultimate political solution would have to be just, fair, and viable. At the core of any settlement lies the wise vision of peace, but only courageous leaders can fulfill this promise. Unconditional American support of Israel, however, will continue to be a source of conflict with Arabs and Muslims.

Enlightened Jews, Palestinians, and friends of peace and justice everywhere should rise above the ocean of hatred and division and be united in their struggle to achieve their noble goals. Unfortunately, Palestinians and Arabs have failed to build alliances with Jews, many of whom object to the occupation of Palestinian land. There has been little attempt by Arab politicians and intellectuals to understand the Israeli „enemy.‰ Furthermore, any attempt at the extension of understanding and reconciliation has been targeted as the work of a fifth column. In the meantime, Israel has engulfed itself in a shell of paranoia and fear.

Violence Defeats Both People

The Israelis have overindulged in a process of denial of the Palestinians‚ existence. This process further developed into blaming and demonizing the victim. There is no doubt such a situation was exacerbated by the surrounding hostile Arab environment, which was only a normal reaction to the Arabs‚ humiliating defeat and their desire for revenge. In the final analysis, both people are defeated by this situation.

Israel, which was supposed to be the safe haven for the Jews of the world, turned out to be a slaughterhouse for both Israelis and Palestinians. At the same time, the Palestinians have been defeated on more than one front; they have lost their land and they have been unable to launch a successful resistance movement. Instead, they have been encumbered by inefficiency and poor vision.

We do not have the luxury, however, to cry over spilled milk. We should rise again, together, against racism, paranoia, hatred, and revenge. People who believe in peace across the divide should never tire. The way I see hope is only when a Palestinian-Israeli peace movement is capable of inspiring the beleaguered masses into joining ranks and working together against the tyranny of militants and military dictatorship in order to instill hope and stretch it to the borders of life.

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