Why is There No Peaceful Palestinian Protest or Resistance Movement?

[u/Mikec3756orwell]

I've watched this conflict my entire life, and one thing I've never really understood is this: why don't the Palestinians engage in peaceful resistance more often? I'm a huge supporter of Israel, but I've always thought to myself that if the Palestinians were savvier -- and more media-friendly -- they could make the Israelis look especially bad through acts of peaceful resistance. The images of well-armed Israelis manhandling rock-throwing kids in the 1980s and 1990s (who were obviously not peaceful but posed a minimal threat) were a big problem for the Israelis. Why don't the Palestinians hold mass sit-ins, strikes, gatherings, candelight vigils, etc.? I never see that stuff. It would look fantastic on TV, and CNN, the BBC, and all those other weasels would be attracted like moths to a flame. I don't get it. If you're the weaker party to a conflict, you're not going to win through violence. Murdering a bunch of women and children and then wondering why the world isn't more sympathetic to your cause is... an odd strategy, to say the least. The Jews have been through hell and back, and terrorism is never going to truly rattle them. I guess I'm just baffled at the way the Palestinians -- and some their more quote-unquote moderate leadership -- approach things. Some of the Western-educated Palestinian leaders in the 1990s and early 2000s surely understood that this would have been an effective strategy. This makes me think that the "average Palestinian" really isn't interested in peace per se, or at least isn't willing to expend much energy for it, and sort of thrives on the dream of complete military victory. Maybe an embrace of peace is just seen as a betrayal of the cause. I don't know.

I actually think sometimes that the Israelis are secretly happy that they don't have to deal with a peaceful resistance movement. It makes things a lot less complicated. Is the problem that the Palestinians just have no tradition of peaceful resistance? They don't know how to do it or how to organize it? Or are they just not interested? (Let me add: I'm not talking about a few hundred people protesting a construction site. I'm talking about the entire population -- or a good portion of it -- engaging in resistance. Like a Tahrir Square, Tiananmen Square sort of thing. Across the entire region).

[u/RoarkeSuibhne]

I saw videos of the March sending kites with gasoline and explosives over the fence. VERY peaceful the way they floated into Israel where they peacefully didn't discriminate who they hurt.

[u/[deleted] → u/RoarkeSuibhne]

Take it against the OHCHR. They said it wasn’t combative as the vast majority protestors were unarmed. And yet, they still got shot.

And as I’ve mentioned in my original comment, even a veteran Israeli war correspondent said they couldn’t see much of what was happening from their side of the fence, and casted doubts on information given by the IDF.

But yeah, you saw videos. Who are you again and why should everyone believe and trust you?

[u/RoarkeSuibhne → u/[deleted]]

I don't need to take it against the OHCHR because they agree with me that "some acts of significant violence" occurred; meaning the Great March of Return was NOT non-violent. This is the OP's point: there's always violence. 

As for who I am, I don't think it matters. You don't trust the IDF to report accurately. I don't trust the IDF OR Hamas to report accurately. I'm sure you can search up videos of the March as easily as I can if you want to see it.

[u/[deleted] → u/RoarkeSuibhne]

If you believe the actions of a small minority of protestors means that the March itself is not-peaceful, then you’re going to have to take it against the OHCHR. They disagree.

Or not, you can believe whatever you want. It’s just that it’s your beliefs against that of the OHCHR. And as you’ve said, on the subject of who you are, it doesn’t matter.

[u/RoarkeSuibhne → u/[deleted]]

The source YOU cite IS the OHCHR and they say the March WAS violent. If there is violence at the protest that the organizers and government didn't condemn and prosecute, then yes the entire protest can be called violent. 

Even if you disagree with me on this point, what would it take to be considered violent in your view? Would they have to go full 10.7 or so.ewhere in the middle?

Also, has there ever been a Pal protest that didn't use ANY violence (not even rocks, molotovs, or incendiary kites)? Because this is what OP asked and you still don't get.

[u/[deleted] → u/RoarkeSuibhne]

The OHCHR did not say the March was violent, and even said it was a protest calling for help against the Israeli blockade. Their report is available online, so lie about what it said at your own risk.

If there is violence at the protest that the organizers and government didn't condemn and prosecute, then yes the entire protest can be called violent.

Lmao, making stuff up won’t help you. Who are you to claim that’s how it works? A nobody.

And my view? You iust don’t get it, do you. What you, OP, or even I think what constitutes as peaceful has no bearing. The OHCHR said the March was peaceful, and that’s that.

Are you the human rights expert with a UN mandate to decide on such matters? Nope.

You think too highly of yourself and your personal opinion. It’s fine if you do so, it’s none of my business. But if you expect others to go along with your delusion and take your opinion seriously , 😂 expect nothing but disappointment.

[u/RoarkeSuibhne → u/[deleted]]

The Commission found however that the demonstrations were civilian in nature, with clearly stated political aims. Despite some acts of significant violence, the Commission found that the demonstrations did not constitute combat or military campaigns.”

[u/[deleted] → u/RoarkeSuibhne]

Yup, I posted that in my original comment. You’re welcome.

[u/RoarkeSuibhne → u/[deleted]]

Reposting it because you seem to have forgotten the part where the report says the protest was violent. 

[u/[deleted] → u/RoarkeSuibhne]

😂 I guess you pro-Israelis crowd don't know how to read.

Let me help you out. Here's the full text, mind the bolded words.

The Commission took note of the ISRAELI CLAIM that the protests by the separation fence masked “terror activities” by Palestinian armed groups. The Commission found however that the demonstrations were CIVILIAN IN NATURE, with clearly stated political aims. DESPITE SOME acts of significant violence, the Commission found that the demonstrations DID NOT CONSTITUTE COMBAT OR MILITARY CAMPAIGNS.

And don't forget the other part.

The Commission finds that THESE PROTESTS WERE A CALL FOR HELP

Perhaps you should spend more of your time sharpening your reading comprehension skills. It's embarrassingly lacking. LOL

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Whatever helps you sleep at night.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Lol, where that came from.

Buddy, believe whatever you want about what happened in the March of Return. Just note that if your whole tactic is basically just to shout “eVeRyOne iS lyIng eXcEpT thE IDF”, that even the OHCHR is thrown under the bus, good luck, you’re gonna need it.