Another
hunger striking Palestinian prisoner in an Israeli jail is close to death.
Mohammed Allan, a 31-year-old Islamic Jihad activist from the West Bank, began
a hunger strike two months ago to protest against his imprisonment without
trial by Israel since November last year.
An
editorial in today's edition of the English language daily, The National, says
that Mr. Allan’s nonviolent protest extends far beyond one individual
protesting against an unjust detention. It is evidence of a sea change in
resistance to Israel’s continuing military occupation. Fellow Islamic Jihad
activist, Khader Adnan, who undertook a 66-day hunger strike to protest against
his imprisonment without trial in 2012, said last week that hunger strikes are
a deterrent to Israel.
The
paper explains that Israel is panicked about this spike in nonviolence from
formerly militant Palestinians. "The evidence for this fear can be found
in a recently enacted law permitting doctors to administer nutrition to hunger
strikers against their will to try to keep them alive. It was rejected by
Israel’s medical association, which said that it constituted a form of torture.
So, why does this Palestinian pivot towards non-violence prompt such a
hysterical response from Tel Aviv?"
For
many, the editorial continues, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the
quintessential example of a violent confrontation without end. It has been a
saga of domination and rebellion played out over the course of decades. While
it is predicated on domination (settler colonialism has traditionally required
some form of violence to establish and maintain itself) there has long been
hope that some form of nonviolence would bring about an equitable solution. In
the battle of narratives of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Palestinians have
the most to gain by embracing nonviolence.
Therefore,
The National says, Palestinian society has turned to nonviolent efforts to
change perceptions and erode support for Israel in the international community.
"Initiatives like the boycott, divestment and sanction, BDS, movement,
which began in 2005, have helped change the way the world understands the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By forgoing violence, activist groups have been
able to portray Israel as the primary aggressor that continues to make life
unbearable for Palestinians under its control.
"The
actions of hunger strikers like Mr. Allan are helping to write this new chapter
and hopefully sow the ultimate resolution." The editorial concludes by
saying that the international community understands that violence will not
resolve this conflict. "Even Palestinian militants are realising the
potential of non-violent protest to end this tragic cycle of misery." –End-
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by: www.telegraph.co.uk
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