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Palestinians Try Less Violent Resistance

Peaceful protests, boycott of Israeli products gain traction

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 7, 2010 5:41 AM CDT

(Newser) – Burnt out on both armed struggle and diplomacy, Palestinian leaders are looking to a third path: political resistance that seeks to be non-violent. The Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority's new strategy to try to end Israeli occupation includes unarmed protest marches, boycott campaigns against goods produced by Israeli settlers, and illegal tree-planting in off-limits West Bank areas, the New York Times reports.

It's an approach that fits the times: While Palestinians are in a "crisis of vision" about how to deal with Israel, daily life on the West Bank has become increasingly normalized and functional in the past two years—offering the business community hope that the push to ban settlers' products will give Palestinian companies a chance to replace Israeli goods with their own.

Israeli soldiers stand guard as Palestinians plant trees during a protest, against the uprooting of trees belonging to Palestinians by Israeli settlers, in the West Bank town of Burin, Jan. 28, 2010.
Israeli soldiers stand guard as Palestinians plant trees during a protest, against the uprooting of trees belonging to Palestinians by Israeli settlers, in the West Bank town of Burin, Jan. 28, 2010.   (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, stands with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, during a tour of the West Bank city of Ramallah, Saturday, March 20, 2010.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, stands with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, during a tour of the West Bank city of Ramallah, Saturday, March 20, 2010.   (AP Photo/Mohamad Torokman, Pool)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
NoddaAndYou
Apr 7, 2010 5:46 PM CDT
A very commendable approach. I do hope they have more success with this tactic. Moreover, I hope it's success catches on and becomes the norm for more mid-eastern conflicts.
Snowleopard
Apr 7, 2010 5:32 PM CDT
good idea. it worked for MLK and Gandhi.
 

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