Chapter 14 The Earthquake

The Earthquake = The Intifada The Intifada is described by Friedman as an earthquake The Intifada ripped open the fault line between the Israeli’s and the Palestinians

Just like an earthquake, the Intifada ripped apart the framework of Israeli society. Israeli’s and Palestinians were pitted against each other.

Time, Events, etc Officially occurred from Occurred in mainland Israel and the occupied territories Famous for Palestinian resistance against Israel via throwing stones and other crudely made weapons; and Israeli crackdowns, sometimes with violence

Palestinian’s using weapons (stones, slings, etc), most likely against Israeli soldiers Israeli soldiers were ordered to respond with violence or arrest those who caused disturbances, even if they were children

Intifada It stemmed from Palestinian hate (Israeli occupation, poverty, treated as second class) The Intifada officially started after Palestinian deaths at the hands of an Israeli truck driver

Palestinian Actions Violence against Israeli troops, civilians, property General strikes, boycott of Israeli goods, rejection of Israeli identification cards, other economic choices and social disobedience to weaken Israel and lower the Israeli public’s moral

Israeli Actions More troops and guards sent to the occupied territories Anyone thought to have committed a violent or resistant action was arrested or attacked Property sometimes was seized

Palestinian viewpoint Palestinians felt that ‘revolting’ would help bring about the change they wanted (two-state solution, better economic conditions, better social treatment, etc) The Intifada was a good way to broadcast the situation in the Palestinian community Some Palestinians did not want it, and some even helped the Israeli’s

Israeli viewpoint Some Israeli’s were shocked that so many Palestinians still hated them. They were also angry, because they believed that they ‘helped’ the Palestinians (jobs, strong government, etc). Some felt that the Palestinians had a real reason to ‘revolt’

Outcome No real political solution occurred Israeli soldiers and reservists began to question whether occupying the territories was worth the cost Economic losses on both sides were great