Conclusion

            Building on relative deprivation theory and previous literature on indiscriminate violence, this study aimed to investigate the effects of the use of indiscriminate violence implemented by the occupation army and settler terrorism in oPt. While much of the existing literature focuses on investigating the effects of indiscriminate violence on inciting rebellion among deprived civilians, this study, while following suit, expands on this by analyzing these effects in the context of prolonged military occupation and decades-long episodes of indiscriminate violence and deprivation. Additionally, it explores how these aspects and events influence attitudes towards the political system and potential peaceful resolutions, including the two-state, one-state, and alternative solutions. Furthermore, taking a step further, this study investigates the impact of indiscriminate violence and settler terrorism on three key welfare aspects: healthcare, education, and employment.

            Using the Bayesian approach and given the data, this study finds empirical evidence to conclude that in the context of prolonged military occupation and decades-long exposure to indiscriminate violence, the results generally align with the findings of previous studies. However, there are significant variations based on age, gender, and different measures of indiscriminate violence and segregation.

Supporting militant resistance: given the data, the evidence shows a clear positive correlation between the increase in army destruction of Palestinian property and Palestinian support for militant resistance against the presence of the occupation forces in oPt. However, this increase is mostly among the younger generation, with older age being negatively associated with supporting militant reactions. Contrary to property destruction by the army, losing a job is negatively associated with supporting militant resistance. This could be due to oPt’s poor welfare system, as losing a job could mean prolonged unemployment with inadequate or no unemployment benefits. Therefore, persons who lost jobs seek more stability rather than resisting the status quo of continuous Israeli occupation and indiscriminate violence.

Viewing militant resistance as a reaction to indiscriminate army violence and settler terrorism: a higher recurrence of indiscriminate violence is positively associated with viewing militant resistance as a justifiable reaction to Israeli violence.  The more violent incidents happen, the more the perception that resistance is justified grows. This finding indicates that the population might not actively support militant resistance, but they perceive it as justifiable given the continuing Israeli use of indiscriminate violence and settler terrorism. Furthermore, the evidence emerging from the data indicates a positive correlation between measures of collective punishment and viewing resistance as a justifiable reaction. The increase in the Israeli act of damaging Palestinian infrastructure is associated with an increase in the perception of militant resistance as a justifiable reaction.

Social deprivation and restrictions on movement are also positively correlated with an increase in the perception of resistance as a justifiable reaction to indiscriminate violence and settler terrorism.  The more social deprivation and movement restrictions the population faces, the more they view resistance as inevitable and necessary.

            Finally, personal traumatic experiences are also positively associated with viewing resistance as a justifiable reaction. Sustaining an injury, regardless of being inflicted by the occupation army’s use of indiscriminate violence or settler terrorism, is associated with viewing resistance as a reaction to these events.

Opinion on PA: Proximity to the wall is associated with the decline of PA’s domestic approval and the erosion of its legitimacy. Proximity to the wall is associated with an increase in the perception of PA as a security tool serving Israel. In contrast, a higher recurrence is negatively associated with viewing PA as corrupt, a mistake, or a security tool. Finally, the inability to attend workplace is negatively associated with viewing PA as a mistake.

            Preferred solution: The results show evidence that the two-state solution remains popular among the older population, with increased support for it with age. Age is also negatively associated with considering alternative solutions and PA dissolution.

            The inability to attend the workplace is positively associated with accepting the two-state solution. This could signify that people with challenges attending work seek stability rather than considering unknown solutions.

            Destruction of property has different effects on the various attitudes towards PA. Settler vandalism of property is associated with decreasing support for the two-state solution. However, army destruction of Palestinian property is positively associated with considering alternative solutions. Moreover, measures of social deprivation through movement restrictions and inability to visit family members are positively associated with considering alternative solutions.

            Personal traumatic experiences like suffering injuries due to indiscriminate use of violence by the army are associated with the erosion of support for the two-state solution, an increase in considering alternative solutions, and an increase in the attitude towards PA dissolution. The attitude towards PA dissolution also increases with proximity to the wall.

Finally, the voting choice for Hamas and the National Initiative is associated with an increase in support for the one-state solution based on the definition: the complete removal of the apartheid regime of Israel and its puppet proxy (PA) and the establishment of one democratic state from the river to the sea with equal rights and obligations for everyone inhabiting the land.

            Access to Healthcare, Education, and Employment: the last results provide evidence that the recurrence of violent events and damage to infrastructure is negatively associated with access to healthcare, education, and the job market. The more often violent events occur, the more limited the access to these services. Proximity to the wall is only positively associated with restrictions on access to the job market.

            With these findings, this study contributes to the literature on the relative deprivation theory and the effects of indiscriminate violence. Furthermore, it contributes to the rarely examined welfare field in conflict zones. However, these results indicate association rather than causality and are based on a limited sample size. Furthermore, the data was collected amidst emotional turmoil and prevalent fear. This study bids to investigate these effects further in this context, with a larger sample and better data collection method.

These results have far-reaching implications for local and international policymakers.  For local policymakers, PLO has to consider the erosion of PA’s legitimacy. If PLO is the sole representative of the Palestinian People, it has to consider and investigate, in light of realities created by Israel, if the two-state solution remains viable; it has to assess whether PA has done enough to provide and protect, not only to the citizens in the main cities of the West Bank but also to the peripheries and close to the apartheid wall. While most of the limitations faced by the PA stem from the constraints imposed by the Oslo Accords, the international community and International institutes need to be more actively engaged in peacemaking. It is probably appropriate to paraphrase the recommendation of (Dajani & Lovatt, 2017) to the EU; if the international community truly believes that the two-state solution is a strategic and moral imperative, it should rethink its approach to peacemaking. A reality in which Israel has the impunity to use endless indiscriminate violence and massive destruction of civilian infrastructure cannot lead to that goal. The international community has the obligation and duty to apply and enforce international law and international humanitarian law impartially.

The data used for analysis is available for free upon request. The use of my data is conditioned on citation.

Alkhatib, M. (2024, December 29). State and Settler violence: Effects of Israeli indiscriminate violence on the political attitudes and welfare of the Palestinian civilians in OPT. https://www.mkhatib.ch/2024/12/29/state-and-settlers-effects-of-israeli-indiscriminate-violence-on-the-political-attitudes-and-welfare-of-the-civilian-population-in-the-occupied-territories/