Conclusion: Prospects for Nonviolent Resistance in Palestine-Israel

Abstract

The objective of this volume is to bring further attention to the use of nonviolent resistance in Palestine-Israel,¹ particularly during the second intifada, while also contributing to the scholarship of nonviolent resistance by exploring the changing actors, tactics, and perceptions shaping popular struggle in the region. The contributions in this volume provide a much broader discussion of Palestinian nonviolent resistance than is usually found in the scholarly literature, and examine the opportunities and challenges that come with broadening the discussion of unarmed struggle not only in theory but also in practice. The contributors to this book, coming from a range of professional, geographic, and disciplinary backgrounds, have provided varied insights into the phenomenon of nonviolent resistance in Palestine-Israel, based primarily on direct observations and personal experiences. Each chapter has provided a rich analytical snapshot of nonviolence in the region, illustrating the diversity of people, actions, and ideas involved in this type of struggle. Because this volume, unlike many on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is written largely by scholar-practitioners, the authors are concerned not only with how the acts of nonviolent resistance contribute to theoretical understanding of the phenomenon, but also ask practical questions regarding the significance of these findings for nonviolent resistance movements in Palestine-Israel and elsewhere.