CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Calhoun, Institutional Archive of the Naval Postgraduate School Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 2012-12 Winning the strategic narrative in the Israeli-Palestinian protracted conflict Zielinski, William J. Monterey, California : Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/29615 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS WINNING THE STRATEGIC NARRATIVE IN THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PROTRACTED CONFLICT by William J. Zielinski December 2012 Thesis Advisor: Sean Everton Second Reader: Doowan Lee Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704–0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202–4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704–0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED December 2012 Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS WINNING THE STRATEGIC NARRATIVE IN THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PROTRACTED CONFLICT 6. AUTHOR(S) William J. Zielinski 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION Naval Postgraduate School REPORT NUMBER Monterey, CA 93943–5000 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING N/A AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. IRB Protocol number ____N/A____. 12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited 13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words) The purpose of this thesis is to identify the reasons for Israeli and Palestinian religious objections to peaceful co- existence in a two-state solution to the conflict over the land between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea. Developing an understanding of the basic religious requirements and precedents, while consistently considering religious impact in politics, may help to open dialogue between Jewish Gush Emunim and Muslim Palestinian Hamas, strong opponents to land compromise. Arguments by Gush Emunim and Hamas from the two major religious works, the Jewish Tanakh and the Muslim Qur’an, and associated commentaries, the Jewish Talmud and Muslim Hadith, are compared and evaluated for religious insights into the disputed areas. Contemporary interpretations of each major writing and political objections based on religious argumentation create a strong context for modern conflict. The requirements and precedents for peace that come from religious texts also promote open dialogue. This thesis suggests ways to open dialogue between the Israeli and Palestinian cultures, comparing religious texts, interpretations, and concepts, in an effort to promote peaceful co-existence and build an effective strategic narrative. 14. SUBJECT TERMS Jewish Israeli Gush Emunim/Muslim Palestinian Hamas Conflict, 15. NUMBER OF Peace, Hudna; Torah/Tanakh/Tanach/Talmud, Quran/Hadith, Political Theology, PAGES Deterrence, Emotional Resonance, Grace, Identity, Religion, Strategic Narrative. 95 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY 18. SECURITY 19. SECURITY 20. LIMITATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF THIS CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT REPORT PAGE ABSTRACT Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified UU NSN 7540–01–280–5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2–89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239–18 i THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ii Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited WINNING THE STRATEGIC NARRATIVE IN THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PROTRACTED CONFLICT William J. Zielinski Major, United States Army B.A., Marquette University, 1998 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN INFORMATION OPERATIONS from the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL December 2012 Author: William J. Zielinski Approved by: Sean F. Everton Thesis Advisor Doowan Lee Second Reader John Arquilla Chair, Department of Defense Analysis iii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK iv ABSTRACT The purpose of this thesis is to identify the reasons for Israeli and Palestinian religious objections to peaceful co-existence in a two-state solution to the conflict over the land between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea. Developing an understanding of the basic religious requirements and precedents, while consistently considering religious impact in politics, may help to open dialogue between Jewish Gush Emunim and Muslim Palestinian Hamas, strong opponents to land compromise. Arguments by Gush Emunim and Hamas from the two major religious works, the Jewish Tanakh and the Muslim Qur’an, and associated commentaries, the Jewish Talmud and Muslim Hadith, are compared and evaluated for religious insights into the disputed areas. Contemporary interpretations of each major writing and political objections based on religious argumentation create a strong context for modern conflict. The requirements and precedents for peace that come from religious texts also promote open dialogue. This thesis suggests ways to open dialogue between the Israeli and Palestinian cultures, comparing religious texts, interpretations, and concepts, in an effort to promote peaceful co-existence and build an effective strategic narrative. v THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK vi TABLE OF CONTENTS I. BACKGROUND, LITERATURE REVIEW, HYPOTHESES ...............................1 A. PROBLEM .......................................................................................................1 B. PURPOSE AND SCOPE:................................................................................4 C. RESEARCH QUESTION: WHAT ARE THE RELIGIOUS DETERMINANTS OF THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT? .....6 D. HYPOTHESES ..............................................................................................12 1. Hypothesis A: Policy Inconsistencies ...............................................12 2. Hypothesis B: Cultural Dogmatism .................................................12 3. Hypothesis C: Peace Promotion .......................................................12 E. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................13 II. FACTORS THAT AFFECT INTENSITY OF CONFLICT .................................15 A. THE DANGERS OF POLICY INCONSISTENCY ...................................15 B. GUSH EMUNIM’S POLITICAL THEOLOGY ........................................24 C. GUSH EMUNIM-THE INTENT FOR THE LAND ..................................24 D. GUSH EMUNIM-AN EVERLASTING COVENANT...............................29 E. GUSH EMUNIM-THROUGH STRUGGLE TO REDEMPTION ...........31 F. GUSH EMUNIM-TEMPLE OBJECTION .................................................34 G. HAMAS’S POLITICAL THEOLOGY .......................................................36 H. HAMAS-CREATION OF AN ISLAMIC STATE ......................................39 I. HAMAS-STRUGGLE TO ESTABLISH THE ISLAMIC STATE ..........40 III. CLOSING THE PEACE GAP ..................................................................................47 A. PATRIARCHS’ EXAMPLE. ........................................................................48 B. TOLERANCE ................................................................................................52 C. PROTECTION ...............................................................................................56 D. FORGIVENESS .............................................................................................58 E. COMMON GROUND ...................................................................................59 IV. CONCLUSION: TOWARD PEACE .......................................................................63 LIST OF REFERENCES ......................................................................................................71 INITIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST .........................................................................................79 vii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Modern Israel Map .............................................................................................7 Figure 2. Israel Map Estimated 969 BC ..........................................................................30 ix THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK x LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Significant Dates in Jewish and Palestinian History........................................10 xi THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK xii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research could not have been realized without the support and love of my family. My darling wife and my children have helped me to find truth, grace and peace, and inspire me to be a better man. The time, experience and dedication of Dr. Sean F. Everton and Doowan Lee, in broadening my perspective and offering wisdom and guidance, are invaluable. Thank you to the supporting academia,