THE ACTIVIST AND THE OLIVE TREE: NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE IN THE SECOND INTIFADA By Julie M. Norman Submitted to the Faculty of the School oflnternational Service of American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy In International Relations . ' Chair: MJrQ i 1 1g='& 4 cJ ~ Moh~amed Abu- imer t~4 ' j .f]},i;o vJ (9.m~ Susan Shepler/ o(aJl of the chool oflnternational Service IS r i I Date 2009 American University Washington, D.C. 20016 AMERK;AN UNIVERSITY LIBRAHr q-1 o{o Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 3358121 Copyright 2009 by Norman, Julie M. INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI® UMI Microform 3358121 Copyright 2009 by ProQuest LLC All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ©COPYRIGHT by Julie M. Norman 2009 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. To all who struggle for peace with justice Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE ACTIVIST AND THE OLIVE TREE: NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE IN THE SECOND INTIFADA By Julie M. Norman ABSTRACT This study examines the phenomenon of nonviolent resistance in the West Bank during and after the second intifada. The primary research question asks, to what extent does a space exist for the (re)emergence of a popular nonviolent movement in the post­ Oslo context? Specifically, the paper (1) identifies episodes of nonviolent activism in the West Bank from 2000 to 2008, 2) investigates the fragmented, localized nature of popular resistance during this period, 3) explores popular attitudes towards violent and nonviolent resistance, and 4) examines how individual and collective activist identities inform participation in popular resistance. The study indicates that, despite the prevalence of violent resistance during the second intifada, numerous episodes of nonviolent activism did and continue to take place in the West Bank in the form of direct actions (such as protests and demonstrations), NGO initiatives, media efforts, youth projects, and everyday acts of resistance. However, a widespread, unified movement has yet to emerge due to both internal and external factors, including differences between activists, divisions within Palestinian politics and 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. civil society, and Israeli measures such as the separation barrier and checkpoints that hinder travel and limit points of contact. Despite the current fragmentation of the movement, the paper illustrates that there is significant public support for nonviolent resistance amongst youth in particular, while support for militant attacks on Israeli civilians is declining. These findings suggest that there is a potential space for the reemergence of a nonviolent movement in the West Bank in the current context, but its realization depends largely on the realignment of nonviolence with individual and collective constructs of activist identity. Specifically, mobilization depends on the association of nonviolent activism with the local acts of popular resistance dominant in the first intifada, over the conceptualization of nonviolence as a western paradigm imposed under Oslo. The study is based on semi-structured interviews with grassroots activists, NGO practitioners, and community leaders; surveys with youth ages 14-34 years; and extensive participant observation. The findings bring attention to the growing phenomenon of nonviolent activism in Palestine, which has been overshadowed by violent resistance and in the academic literature and mainstream discourse. lll Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the many individuals who provided me with support, advice, guidance, and inspiration throughout the process of completing this project. Thank you to the countless activists, students, community leaders, and others who participated in the research and shared their time, thoughts, and stories with me. I am grateful to Mohammed Abu-Nimer, my dissertation chair and mentor, whose work on nonviolence and peacebuilding continues to inspire me and countless other students, scholars, practitioners, and activists, and who provided invaluable support and feedback throughout the Ph.D. experience. Many thanks also to my other committee members, Julie Mertus and Susan Shepler, who guided me through the dissertation process with their insights and encouragement. Thank you also to Dean Louis Goodman for his assistance, feedback, and mentorship. This project would not have been possible without the generous support of the School of International Service at American University. Thank you also to the Palestinian American Research Council (PARC), which supported me during the fieldwork and writing stages; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Jerusalem 2050 initiative, which supported me during the revision process; and the Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College, which supported me in finalizing lV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. the manuscript for publication. I am also grateful to Gene Cohen and the Jessica Jennifer Cohen Foundation (JJCF) family for their kind support of my work in the Middle East. Thank you to Fatemah B. for her kindness, friendship, and assistance on this project in the West Bank. Thank you also to Philip Rizk and Alex Baramki, both of whom assisted with much of the translation throughout the research period. I am grateful to Mark and Susanne Brown for their boundless warmth, hospitality, and friendship in Jerusalem. Thank you also to Rachel Kliewer, my teacher who first sparked my interest in this part of the world, and who remains my close friend and mentor. A special thanks to Tazreena Sajjad, who provided the initial comments on the first draft, and who continues to dazzle and inspire as a scholar, activist, and dear friend. Finally, thank you to my family: My sister, Cara Heuser, who has always been there for me; and my brother-in-law, Ryan Heuser, and my nephew, Joseph "Joey" Heuser, who have brought so much joy to my life. Lastly, thank you to my parents, Mark and Deborah Norman. I cannot thank them enough for the love and support they have given me throughout this process, and in every aspect of my life. v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ......................................................................................... .ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................ .iv ILLUSTRATIONS ....................................................................................................... viii INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 PART I. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT .................................................. 12 Chapter 1. Literature Review ..................................................................... 13 Chapter 2. Historical Background and Research Context .................................... 51 Chapter 3. Lenses of Inquiry: Methodology and Research Design ......................... 77 PART IL ACTIVISM AND ATTITUDES .................................................... 119 Chapter 4. "A Color Other Than Blood": Nonviolent Resistance in the West Bank. ...................................................... 120 Chapter 5. "Youth Will Be the Lifeblood": Re-examining Youth Attitudes toward Popular Resistance .................................. 167 PART III: SOURCES OF FRAGMENTATION .............................................. 192 Chapter 6. Ineffective Resource Mobilization ................................................ 193 Chapter 7. Political Constraints ................................................................. 218 Chapter 8. Lack of Resonant Movement Frames ............................................. 238 Chapter 9. Identity and Collective Action .................................................... .257 CONCLUSION .................................................................................... 280 Vl Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APPENDICES Appendix A. Field Sites .......................................................................... 301 Appendix B. Sample Interview Questions ..................................................... 306 Appendix C. Preliminary Survey (2006) .....................................................