THE CONSEQUENCES OF ISRAEL’S COUNTER TERRORISM POLICY Pia Therese Jansen A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St. Andrews 2008 Full metadata for this item is available in the St Andrews Digital Research Repository at: https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/439 This item is protected by original copyright This item is licensed under a Creative Commons License The Consequences of Israel’s Counter Terrorism Policy Pia Therese Jansen Degree of PhD at University of St. Andrews Submitted on May the 25 th 2007 I, Pia Therese Jansen, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately ………..words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. Date …………………. Signature of candidate …………………………………….. I was admitted as a research student in ……….. and as a candidate for the degree of PhD in ……..; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St. Andrews between ……….. Date …………………. Signature of candidate …………………………………….. I herby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of PhD in the University of St. Andrews, and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date …………………. Signature of supervisor …………………………………….. In submitting this thesis to the University of St. Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for the use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker. Date …………………. Signature of candidate …………………………………….. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Professor Alex Schmid, who has been my supervisor, for restoring my faith in academia. Thank you, Joachim for awaking my interest in conflicts and for substantial technical support, Anna who makes sense of it all, and Elisabeth for always being a true light. But above all, I am eternally grateful to Jakob who continuously increasing the joy in life. I would like to express my gratitude towards friends, colleagues and family, who have kept me going with their unquestionable support and incredible patience. As a child, while crying over homework that was particularly difficult for a dyslexic to perform, my mother was always there to lift my spirits and guide me through the maze of knowledge. I owe her everything. I am told (by me) to leave the fire and go out into the wind and rain like a starving hunter to bring back food to the cave of my mind. “Old man in his Chair” by Norman MacCaig Abstract The main focus of this thesis is to examine Israel’s counter terrorism methods and their consequences and to debate the effectiveness of Israel’s counter terrorism policy. By stimulating a debate on these issues it is possible to identify a more effective counter terrorism policy. In order to examine Israel’s counter terrorism methods, their consequences and effectiveness, it is necessary to first explore the overall concepts of terrorism and counter terrorism. Then, because counter terrorism policy is hard to evaluate if one does not look at the context which surrounds it, this thesis will therefore explore some aspects of Israeli security history which has and continues to influence its counter terrorism policy. Furthermore, this thesis will provide an introduction to the general development of Palestinian resistance movement which will include a scrutiny of Hamas. This thesis has selected some of Israel’s counter terrorism methods, and will be examining the width and depth of these methods as well as their consequences on the Palestinian society in general and on Hamas in particular. In seeking to answer the more general question about the effectiveness of Israel’s counter terrorism policy the thesis will evaluate this aspect by relying on qualitative and quantitative indicators. This thesis will show that Israeli counter terrorism methods does reduce the capacity of Hamas and as such has prevented certain attacks or incapacitated Hamas’ military wing for a limited time; they have, however, had a limited effect in the long run. It will be shown that these methods have consequences far beyond reducing the terrorist organisation capacity, which deepen the root causes for terrorism and increase the motivation to continue the resistance. 1. Introduction................................................................................................................... 5 1. 2 A description of the approach...................................................................................... 9 1. 3 A tour through the chapters........................................................................................ 14 2. A theoretical approach to terrorism ......................................................................... 16 2. 1 How can terrorism be understood? ............................................................................ 17 2. 2 How can counter terrorism be understood? ............................................................... 23 2. 2. 1 The counter terrorism equation...................................................................... 24 2. 2. 2 How to categorise counter terrorism policy................................................... 27 The military model’s role in countering terrorism................................................ 29 The criminal model’s role in counter terrorism .................................................... 30 The expanded criminal justice model’s role in counter terrorism ........................ 32 2. 2. 3 Counter terrorism and democracy - Security vs. Liberty............................... 35 3. Some aspects of Israel’s security history .................................................................. 38 3. 1 The main pillars of Israeli military doctrine .............................................................. 41 3. 1. 1 ‘Strategic defence, operational offence’ ........................................................ 43 3. 1. 2 ‘A nation–in-arms’......................................................................................... 47 The changing perception of the IDF ..................................................................... 50 3. 2 The evolution of Israel’s counter terrorism strategy.................................................. 53 The counter terrorism strategy under Prime Minister Begin’s government (1977- 1983) ..................................................................................................................... 55 The counter terrorism strategy under Prime Minister Shamir and the unity governments (1983-1992)..................................................................................... 56 The counter terrorism strategy under Prime Minister Rabin’s government (1992- 1996) ..................................................................................................................... 57 The counter terrorism strategy under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government (1996-1999)........................................................................................................... 59 The counter terrorism strategy under Prime Minister Barak’s government 1999- 2001....................................................................................................................... 60 The counter terrorism strategy under Prime Minister Sharon’s government (2001- 2006) ..................................................................................................................... 60 3. 2. 1 Three key categorisations of actions in Israel counter terrorism policy ........ 62 Israeli offensive action.......................................................................................... 63 Israeli defensive actions........................................................................................ 64 Israeli punitive actions .......................................................................................... 65 4. Background on the Palestinian resistance movement ............................................. 67 Settlements and their connection to the al-Nakbah........................................... 68 1 4. 1. The origins of the Palestinian resistance movement................................................. 71 1964 - 1979 Towards Recognition and Legitimacy.............................................. 72 1980 - 1992 From War in Lebanon to the Oslo Accords...................................... 76 4. 2 Islamism as a voice of Palestinian identity represented by Hamas ........................... 80 History of Hamas .................................................................................................. 83 Hamas nationalises................................................................................................ 85 Ideology ................................................................................................................ 88 Suicide bombings –martyrdom – Istishhadi ........................................................ 90 5. Israeli counter terrorism methods, 1992-2000 ......................................................... 96 The first Intifada and the emergence