Israel’s Military: Emotions, Violence, and the Limits of Dissent Submitted in partial fulfilment for the requirement of the degree of Ph.D. Sorana-Cristina Jude Department of International Politics Aberystwyth University Wales September 2017 Word Count Thesis: 76, 351 Declaration This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Candidate name: Sorana-Cristina Jude Signature Date 15. 12. 2017 STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Where *correction services have been used, the extent and nature of the correction is clearly marked in a footnote(s). Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signature Date 15. 12. 2017 [*this refers to the extent to which the text has been corrected by others] STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter- library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signature Date I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan after the expiry of the bar on access, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signature Date 15. 12. 2017 Summary The thesis contributes to the feminist and critical engagements with the Israeli military and its violent behaviour against Palestinian civilians. Intrigued by the public, military, and political reluctance to condemn the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for their individual and collective violence against Palestinians, this research presents the artificial and multifaceted construction of a professional, non-threatening, and humanitarian military subjectivity as a material and symbolic figure that constrains local and international dissent against the Israeli military. This idealised image is constituted through a variety of Israeli soldiering (self-)representations that capture, circulate, and provoke emotions that determine affinity with the Israeli military and the denigration of Palestinians. Therefore, this project shows that a repertoire of emotions constitute and circulate a romanticised military image that strengthens the affective divisions that sanction and justify the enactment of violence in the Middle East. To my family, Wherever you might find yourself… Acknowledgements I am indebted to my supervisors, Prof. Alastair Finlan and Dr James Vaughan, for their intellectual insights, their immense patience, and their readiness to accept (and to moderate) my wildest ideas. They have listened to my silences and confused thoughts, have shared their rich academic experience and knowledge with me, and have relentlessly encouraged me to find a voice whilst writing this thesis. Their affable yet sharp demeanour during our meetings has shaped my intellectual and personal journey in more ways than they would ever acknowledge! Born and raised in a family whose trajectory is associated with the Israel/Palestine conflict, I would have never written this thesis without my cousin’s life story. My cousin Nariman-Ioana, and her daughters Lara and Natalie live beyond the physical reality of conflict, war, and violence in the West Bank. Their strength and humour in navigating family, friendship, love, and loss have transformed them into my role models. Their extended family in Bethlehem and Beit Jala filled my fieldwork with affection, laughter, delicious food, and eye-opening adventures. I am particularly indebted to my nieces’ grandmother Aysha, father Adel, and aunt Afaf for taking me into their lives and caring for me from the minute I stepped into their home. I am especially thankful to my interviewees for their time and interest in the topic of this thesis. Their voices have all inspired this thesis whether they are directly quoted within it or not. During my fieldwork, the Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace at Hebrew University kindly offered me a space to work and think. Marc Sherman and Andrea Pearlman prepared for my visit to the very last detail and provided advice on how to navigate Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Daniela Nir met with me on a hot day in Tel Aviv, and introduced me to politics, family life, and military service in Israel. During my fourth year, I have been particularly lucky to be hosted by the Department of Political Science, at Lund University, in Sweden. Kristina Nilsson and Dr Kristina Jönsson organised my visiting fellowship and provided me with indispensable office and intellectual space to finalise this project. The staff and administrative members from this department kindly welcomed me, demonstrated interest in my project, and shared lively lunches and fikas with me. From my home department of International Politics in Aberystwyth, my fellow PhD students have been a source of scholarly inspiration and lively political debates. The following shared delicious dinners, long chats, and unforgettable parties with me: Katja Daniels, André Saramago, Bleddyn Bowen, Lorena De Vita, Justa Mayra, Adhemar Mercado, Rakesh Bhatia, Matthew Reese, Florian Edelmann, Katharina Hone, Mary Keogh, Katarina Kušić, Christine Andrä, Danielle House, Alistair Markland, Nicholas Morgan, Quincy Cloet, Abigail Blyth, Alexander Hoseason, John Wood, Carolin Kaltofen, Einion Dafydd, Markus Göransson, Philip Conway, and Alexandros Koutsoukis. My close-knit PhD cohort, Matthew Campbell, Kyle Cunliffe, Jessica Shahan, Danielle Young, and Desirée Poets have provided a safety net of friendship, humour, and support. Yvonne Rinkart made sure that I would never lose confidence in myself and pushed me whenever I felt I could not write or think. Lydia Cole and Charlotte Botfield walked, ate amazing cakes, and shared glasses of wine and cups of coffee and tea with me. Their friendship is remarkable and their support is unwavering! I am thankful to Prithvi Hirani for her friendship, love, humour, and care. I grew so much because of you… I am grateful for having you in my life! Dr Huw Bennett, Dr Berit Bliesemann de Guevara, Prof. Craig Campbell, Prof. Christian Enemark, Dr Claudia Hillebrand, Dr Alistair Shepherd, Prof. Hidemi Suganami, and Dr Catrin Wyn Edwards have been particularly supportive about my project, listened to my thoughts and worries, and provided insightful advice about academic life in general. A special thank you to Glesni Davis, Vicki Jones, Elaine Lowe, Donia Richards and Sara Whitehead for their unfailing and magical administrative support. My parents Angela and Dorel-Petru Jude have provided emotional and financial support throughout my academic adventures. They have inspired me to follow my passion for books, to trust myself, and to work harder every day. My grandfather Ioan Dineş never missed a chance to express his love and support. Their high yet reasonable expectations of me guided my PhD journey, and their unfaltering love, humour, and encouragement endowed me with strength and confidence. My sister-in-law Anca and my brother Alexandru have welcomed me to Sweden with their arms wide open and made sure that my writing-up period was both fun and hassle-free. Anca’s laughter and joie de vivre wiped away my insecurities and worries, and Alex’s continuous teasing about writing a PhD thesis (and about academic life) taught me to stop taking myself so serious all of the time. This year has brought us closer and has reinforced our bond. Words are not enough to express how grateful I am for their love, care, and immense patience. Their children (my nephews) Rareş and Ianis lifted me every evening and invited me into their colourful, carefree, and playful world. Their tenderness, love, and mischievous pranks brought so much needed levity while writing this thesis. My friends Sandra Hirsch, Paulina Cruz Aroca, Madiha Iftikhar, Inez Hariedy, Dragan Kuljanin, Katharina Rauch, and Valentin Trifescu have been right by my side throughout all of these years despite the physical distance between us. I am humbled by their affection, support, and trust! Raluca Csernatoni was the first person to provide me with a taste of international politics. She inspired me to move along this path and to question my knowledge every day. Thank you for being such an inspirational friend! Table of Contents List of Figures .......................................................................................... iii Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 Research Design: Approach, Methods, and Limitations ................................................. 4 A Feminist Approach ........................................................................................................ 4 Methods .......................................................................................................................... 15 Limitations ...................................................................................................................... 18 Contribution to Knowledge .............................................................................................. 21 Project Structure ............................................................................................................... 27 Chapter 1: The Politics of Emotions and Violence within Civil- Military Relations in Israel ................................................................... 32 The Affective Frame of Israeli Soldiering ......................................................................