A Champion of Non-violence on Palestine's Tactics
As hundreds of Palestinians jailed in Israel go on hunger strike to mark "Prisoners' Day" on April 17, Al-Monitor talks to Mustafa Barghouti, an MP, the leader of Al-Mubadara and a long-time advocate of civil resistance about the effectiveness of the non-violent movement. Are boycotts working? Will Hamas renounce the armed struggle? And is a two-state solution possible?
With a huge, open-ended hunger strike planned for April 17, in which all Palestinian prisoners will follow the example of Khader Adnan —who was released after a 66-day strike earlier this year—questions about the Palestinian non-violence movement have become pertinent again. Among the reasons that led Palestinian militant groups to renounce large-scale violence, one could cite the wall that Israel started building in 2002 around the West Bank to thwart suicide bombings, or Israel’s massive assault on Gaza in December 2008-January 2009 to stop rocket attacks. Hunger strikes, peaceful demonstrations against the wall and house demolitions and a fledging boycott against Israeli goods are among the new non-violent tactics adopted by Palestinians seeking an end to the occupation. To find out more about this movement, Al-Monitor spoke to Mustafa Barghouti, a medical doctor, MP, the leader of Al-Mubadara (“The Initiative”) and a long-time advocate of civil resistance.
Al-Monitor: Have Palestinians opted for non-violent resistance as a new strategy?
Mustafa Barghouthi: It has become clear that non-violent resistance is the best way. First of all, because it is the most effective way. We need to change the balance of power. Israel has a clear military superiority and non-violent resistance provides a challenge Israel is unable to meet as it exposes the real nature of the conflict, that Palestinians are the victims. Second, because it allows us to have what we need so much for the success of our struggle, which is moral integrity. And third, because it is a form of struggle that allows everybody to participate.
AM: Can you give us examples of Palestinian peaceful resistance?
