Jumping Obstacles; the Israeli Settlement Course Kayali, H. Submitted version deposited in Coventry University’s Institutional Repository Original citation: Kayali, H. (2016) Jumping Obstacles; the Israeli Settlement Course. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Coventry: Coventry University Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Some materials have been removed from this thesis due to third party copyright and data protection. Pages where material has been removed are clearly marked in the electronic version. The unabridged version of the thesis can be viewed at the Lanchester Library, Coventry University. Hitham Kayali Jumping Obstacles; the Israeli Settlement Course A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the University’s requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Coventry University Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations Coventry, United Kingdom i Abstract Since 2005, when the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its opinion deeming the Israeli Separation Wall and settlements illegal, there have been significant developments in the nonviolent methods adopted for countering Israeli occupation. While Palestinian nonviolent resistance has existed throughout history, from this time onwards, there have been a number of factors that give this period its unique traits. The most central method that has been adopted by all nonviolent actors is to influence economic interaction with Israel in a way that is in line with international law, and is supportive of the official positions adopted by the countries that nonviolent activists aim to influence. While Israeli settlements are illegal according to international law, they include industrial areas that export products to many countries. Through this contradiction, nonviolent activists have found an opportunity to pressurise countries to end their economic ties with those settlements, and consequently put pressure Israel to change its settlement policies. Some of these call for ending economic ties with Israel itself, because it is upholding the settlements, and some call for ending ties only with Israeli settlements; in other words, some target the criminal and others just the crime. In 2010, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) adopted its first unilateral program that was not in agreement with Israel, and which introduced a strategy for the cessation of economic ties with Israeli settlements. This was done through a mixture of national public awareness campaigns to influence consumer behaviour, and the introduction of legislation by which it became illegal for Palestinian enterprises to have any economic ties with Israeli settlements. ii After starting by focussing on its own markets, the PNA called upon other countries to follow suit by lobbying government officials, parliamentarians, and financial institutions. However, this action came five years after a call for a full boycott, including divestment and sanctions against Israel, made by Palestinian civil society organizations and political parties. This call, Known as the BDS call had gained tremendous support and amalgamated a large pool of members internationally by the time that the PNA started with its campaign for a limited boycott. This disparity has had a significant influence on the dynamics of the boycott movement, both locally in Palestine and globally. This research explores those dynamics. It takes an in-depth looK at the effort to end economic ties with settlements, including who the actors are, what they aim for, how they interact, and how effective they have been. The PNA’s program to end economic ties with settlements was chosen as a case study for this doctoral thesis, because of its central position in relation to the topic and the unique access to its documentation through the author’s previous role as its director. iii Dedication To the people who form my very being; My parents for raising me with the most perfect upbringing that anyone can ever dream of. For making me believe that anything is possible as long as I decide to work for it; for showing me the true meaning of determination, persistence, and accomplishment through their own journey; for being such wonderful role models… My wife Dima for showing me what dedication is in the first place; for being the perfect wife, partner, and mother to our daughters, whilst being an accomplished dentist with sterling prestige; for showing me what I am capable of; for her tolerance; her unconditional love, support, and encouragement… My daughters Leen and Noor for being the joy of my life; for giving it purpose… iv AcKnowledgments There are many people who have contributed greatly to the completion of this thesis. Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor Dr. Marwan Darweish for his guidance, coaching, and friendship. His commitment to my progress is something I will always value and cherish. To the people who I interviewed, all of whom provided vital information and honest accounts of events. I would like to particularly thank Dr. Salam Fayyad and Dr. Hasan Abu-Libdeh for their time and commitment to seeing this study become an important part of literature that documents important nonviolent activity from which many lessons can be drawn, and upon which future action can be based. Special appreciation also goes to Jessica AitKen for her input in shaping this study. I would also like to thank Andrew Summers for his unconditional support, friendship, and mentorship throughout the past years. This study would not have been possible without the support of my dear friend Celia AtKin; her Kindness, dedication, drive, are truly inspirational. v Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................................. ii Dedication ...................................................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................ v Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................ vi List of Maps ..................................................................................................................................................... x List of Tables .................................................................................................................................................. xi Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 13 1.1 The contemporary problem with settlements .................................................................. 17 1.2 Research Aims ................................................................................................................................ 22 1.3 Thesis Outline ................................................................................................................................. 27 Part I Chapter 2 Literature Review: Nonviolence in theory ...................................................................................... 32 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 32 2.2 Nonviolence in theory ................................................................................................................. 33 2.3 Practical issues of nonviolence .............................................................................................. 47 2.4 Palestinian nonviolence: ........................................................................................................... 55 2.5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 3 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................ 69 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 69 3.2 Analytical framework .................................................................................................................. 70 3.3 Overall Aim ....................................................................................................................................... 74 Specific Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 75 3.4 Definitions: ....................................................................................................................................... 76 3.5 Research scope ..............................................................................................................................