Israel's other terrorism challenge
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2010
Abstract
The term 'terrorism' when used in conjunction with 'Israel' or 'Palestinians' has been used almost exclusively to describe suicide attacks against Israeli civilian and military targets. 'Terrorism' is, after all, an apt term for these actions. However, the identification of one form of terrorism does not negate the accuracy of its application to certain actions taken by and on behalf of governments. The emerging field of theory aimed at identifying and understanding state terrorism is an important and overdue contribution to the broader area of critical terrorism studies. This chapter offers empirical substance by way of a case study. During Israel's forty-year occupation of the West Bank there are a number of policies and practices enacted whose intent seems to be to produce fear and submission through the use of violence and threats for purposes of political coercion. Physical and psychological intimidation at checkpoints, arbitrary closures and curfews, harsh mobility restrictions, home demolitions, random detentions and the denial of a whole range of basic human rights contrive to keep Palestinians in a constant state of anxiety and trepidation.
Recommended Citation
Nasr, S. (2010). Israel's other terrorism challenge. In R. Jackson, E. Murphy, E & S. Poynting (eds.). Contemporary state terrorism: Theory and practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Comments
Due to copyright restrictions the publisher's version/PDF of this book chapter is unavailable for download.
Contemporary state terrorism: Theory and practice may be accessed from the publisher here
Contemporary state terrorism: Theory and practice may be accessed from the National Library of Australia here
The Author:
Dr Sandra Nasr