Isreali-Palestinian Conflict: Peace and Pacifist Movements


Figure 1.--

There have been peace and pacifist movements in all the important conflicts of the 20th century. The exceptions have been the wars fought by totalitarian powers (NAZI Germany, Fascist Italy, Imperial Japan, and the Soviet Union). Totalitarian powers equated peace movements and pacifisn as treason and individuals who dared to speak out were arrested and usually executed. The space for peace movements and pacifism in democraric countries has varied. Often is was not great, at other times it was substantial. Civilians could be arrested, but not executed. Countries have varies over the strength and tradition of protections for civil liberties. The existence of peace and pacifist movements in Israel and Palestine is thus an important one to consider. We know of Isreali peace activists who enjoy a level of tolerance in Israel. An important element of the Zionist movement was socialism and there was a strong peace/pacifist strain of thought among socialists. Thus in Israel there was a political foundation for a peace and pacifist movement. We do not know of any comparable movement among the Palestinians or indeed the wider Arab world. We note Palestinisan and Arab groups publicizing Jews who criticize Israel, but do not note any toleration for Palestisans promoting pacifism or peace. Perhsaps Palestisan readers can provide some information.

Civil Liberties and War

There have been peace and pacifist movements in all the important conflicts of the 20th century. The exceptions have been the wars fought by totalitarian powers (NAZI Germany, Fascist Italy, Imperial Japan, and the Soviet Union). Totalitarian powers equated peace movements and pacifisn as treason and individuals who dared to speak out were arrested and usually executed. The space for peace movements and pacifism in democraric countries has varied. Often is was not great, at other times it was substantial. Civilians could be arrested, but not executed. Countries have varies over the strength and tradition of protections for civil liberties. The existence of peace and pacifist movements in Israel and Palestine is thus an important one to consider. We know of Isreali peace activists who enjoy a level of tolerance in Israel. An important element of the Zionist movement was socialism and there was a strong peace/pacifist strain of thought among socialists. Thus in Israel there was a political foundation for a peace and pacifist movement. We do not know of any comparable movement among the Palestinians or indeed the wider Arab world. We note Palestinisan and Arab groups publicizing Jews who criticize Israel, but do not note any toleration for Palestisans promoting pacifism or peace. Perhsaps Palestisan readers can provide some information.

Isreali Peace and Pacifist Movements

We know of Isreali peace activists who enjoy a level of tolerance in Israel. An important element of the Zionist movement was socialism and there was a strong peace/pacifist strain of thought among socialists. Thus in Israel there was a political foundation for a peace and pacifist movement.

Palestinian Peace and Pacifist Movements

We do not know of any comparable movement among the Palestinians or indeed the wider Arab world. There were some moderate Arabs during the British Mandate period. The most famous was Hasan Shukri the mayor of Haifa. The Britisdh organized the first eklections in Palestine. Municipal electionin Haifa elected a council composed of four Muslims, four Christians and two Jews (1927). The newly elected Council was headed by Hasan Shukri, who belonged to the front opposing the Arab nationalists and willing to work with the Zionists. Another election returned Shukri as mayor (1934). The composition of the council was changed to reflect the 1931 census. The council was enlarged to 12 members, four from each of the faith communities. With the outbreak of the Arab rebellion launched by the Mufti and Arab nationalists, most of the Arab councilors resigned (1936). The British replaced the council wih an appointed group, but retained Shukri as mayor. The Mufti had ordered prominant moderates killed. There were several attemts to kill Shukri. He fled to Lebanon (1937). [Bernstein] We now note Palestinisan and Arab groups publicizing Jews who criticize Israel, but do not note any toleration for Palestisans promoting pacifism or peace. Perhsaps Palestisan readers can provide some information.

Individuals

There are a number of pacifists/peace activists that have been active in Isreali and Palestine. There activities and history is not very well publicized , but important to recall. They include Isrealis, Europeans, and Americans, but we do not know of Palestinians. We do know that the Palestinians have targeted noth Isreali and foreign peace activisdts.

Dr. Levi Billig (1936)

Dr. Levi Billig was 39 years old when he was shot and killed in his apartment located in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem by a Palestinian sniper (August 21, 1936). He was at the time a prominant member of the ‘Brit Shalom’ peace association. This essentially ended the influence of Brit Shalom within the Zionist movement. Members commonly concluded thsat the Palestisans were not prepared to make poeace.

Mavis Pat (1972)

Mavis Pat was a 46 years old American nurse working at the Gaza Baptist Hospital. She was murdered when a grenade was thrown into a car in which she was riding (January 15, 1972). The car was being driven by her employer, anotherr American. He was the hospital manager Reverend Edward Nicolas. He was wounded by automatic weapon gunfire during the attack, as was one of his three children in the car with them.

Ziva Goldovsky 1988)

Ziva Goldovsky was an 18-year Old Russian-born Israeli peace activist. She was murdered by a Palestinian (August 10, 1988). The murderer was a friend of her Palestinian boyfriend.

Angelo Frammartino (2006)

Angelo Frammartino was a 24-year old human rights activist who volunteered to work with Palestinian children in East Jerusalem. ; a Palestinian named Ashraf Hanaisha stabbed him to death (August 10, 2006). He apparently thought that Frammartino was Jewish.

Sources

Bernstein, Deborah. Constructing boundaries.






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