Reconstructing Jihad Amid Competing International Norms: Implications for a Resolution of the Israel-Palestine Conflict Author Rane, Halim Published 2008 Thesis Type Thesis (PhD Doctorate) School Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance DOI https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/2407 Copyright Statement The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367945 Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au Reconstructing Jihad amid Competing International Norms: Implications for a Resolution of the Israel-Palestine Conflict Halim Rane BHSc (Hon.) (IIUM) MA (Bond) PhD Candidate Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice, and Governance Griffith Islamic Research Unit Griffith University Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy January 2008 i Abstract This thesis adopts a multi-disciplinary approach in its examination of the Israel- Palestine conflict. Its subject matter essentially falls within the fields of international relations and Islamic studies. There are three central research questions of this thesis: From a constructivist perspective, what is the main obstacle to a just peace in Israel-Palestine? What is the mechanism through which the Israel-Palestine conflict can be resolved? What is required of the Palestinians in order to facilitate this process? Utilising the constructivist perspective of international relations along with the contextualist and objective- oriented (maqasid) approaches of Islamic Studies, the aim of this thesis is to demonstrate why Palestinian nonviolence would be more conducive to their liberation struggle than violent resistance, and how this is a legitimate and authentic form of jihad consistent with the higher objectives of Islam. Independent of strategic and material concerns, international norms and identity factors are fundamental determinants of the interests and policies of even the most powerful nations. In the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, a just resolution has been obstructed by the competition that exists between the norms of self-determination (central to Palestinian claims) and self-defence (central to Israeli concerns). With the norm of self-defence predominant in the ‘peace process’, Palestinian use of violence has increasingly become detrimental to their struggle for self-determination. However, the dominant interpretation and application of jihad equates the concept with armed struggle. A just resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict requires a reformulation of jihad through a process that broadens the concept to include non-violent resistance but retains Islamic legitimacy and authenticity. This reformulation, based on context and objectives, will make a critical contribution to generating the requisite international support for the norm of self-determination for the Palestinians, without compromising the norm of self-defence for the Israelis, in order to redirect the strategic and material interests of influential states. This has the potential to shift their foreign policies toward a just resolution of the conflict based on the normative framework provided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. ii Statement of Originality This work has not previously been submitted for a degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the thesis itself. ………………………………. Halim Rane 15 January 2008 iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... vi List of Tables.................................................................................................................vii List of Abbreviations……..………………………………………………..………...…………viii Glossary ........................................................................................................................ ix Introduction ................................................................................................................ 12 Literature review ....................................................................................................... 22 The Israel-Palestine conflict .................................................................................. 22 International relations............................................................................................ 29 Islamic studies ...................................................................................................... 32 Contributions to the literature…………..…………………………………………………..37 Chapter structure...................................................................................................... 39 PART I: The Israel-Palestine Conflict Chapter 1: Origin, Nature, and Progression of the Conflict ....................................................... 43 Historical Palestine ................................................................................................... 43 Origin of the conflict .................................................................................................. 45 The partition of Palestine .......................................................................................... 49 The ‘peace process’.................................................................................................. 57 The religious dimension ........................................................................................ 63 Asymmetry............................................................................................................ 69 Just peace ............................................................................................................ 76 Conclusion................................................................................................................ 83 Chapter 2: The United Nations Security Council Resolutions on the Question of Palestine: A Normative Framework for a Just Resolution ........................................................ 84 Analysis .................................................................................................................... 86 The Question of Palestine......................................................................................... 88 Obstructions to peace ........................................................................................... 88 Applicability and implementation of the Fourth Geneva Convention...................... 91 Occupation or administration?............................................................................... 92 Cycle of violence................................................................................................... 94 Final-status issues ................................................................................................ 97 Framework for a just resolution........................................................................... 110 Conclusion.............................................................................................................. 115 PART II: Theoretical Foundation Chapter 3: Constructivism and the Role of International Norms and Identity in Conflict Resolution................................................................................................... 117 Definition and conceptualisation ............................................................................. 117 Norms in international relations............................................................................... 121 Norms, international law, and international politics.............................................. 123 The case of South Africa: Lessons for the Israel-Palestine conflict ..................... 129 Competing norms ................................................................................................... 138 Decolonisation and Self-determination................................................................ 139 Israel’s security and the norm of self-defence ..................................................... 142 Identity.................................................................................................................... 149 Conclusion.............................................................................................................. 158 iv Chapter 4: Contemporary Realities and the Imperative of a Non-Violent Intifada..................159 Implication of 9/11 and the ‘war on terror’................................................................159 Western public opinion and perceptions..............................................................159 International political and legal dimensions .........................................................163 Counter-productivity of the second intifada .............................................................167 Nonviolence ............................................................................................................177 Potential for a non-violent intifada .......................................................................180 Limitations of Palestinian nonviolence.................................................................187 Conclusion..............................................................................................................200 PART III: Reformulation Chapter 5: The Islamic Doctrines of War and Peace ................................................................203