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Introduction Rochelle Davis The first decade of the twenty-first century witnessed both significant ends and noteworthy beginnings for Palestinians. In this volume, specialists on Palestinian politics, history, economics, and society examine the continuities that bind the twentieth to the twenty-first century. The contributors address these junctures with an analytical eye on the effects of colonial rule and on the political and ideological trends following the 1948 and 1967 wars, bringing a close reading of history into crucial and critical scholarship on the present. They also consider what the future may hold based on the evidence provided by ongoing political, social, economic, and legal developments . The rigorous scholarship in this volume offers a well-grounded perspective from which to recommend informed solutions to bring a just and peaceful future to Palestine and Israel. at the outset of the twenty-first century and as the decade progressed, it became clear that the political agreements that had underpinned post–Oslo accord Palestinian-Israeli relations were no longer being observed. Israeli policy under prime ministers ariel sharon and Benjamin netanyahu moved sharply to the right. The launch of the second Intifada (2000) shifted Palestinians ’ resistance to Israelis in a way that adopted a new and violent character . The decade saw an increase in the repressiveness of Israeli occupation policies, including completion of the major portions of the separation wall,1 continued confiscation of Palestinian land in the West Bank and east jerusalem and the building of settlements,2 extrajudicial executions,3 and arrests of political activists.4 These policies solidified the settlement, water, and road networks that by design also inhibit Palestinians’ access to their farmland, to enough water to live on, and to unhindered movement.5 The decade also witnessed the rise and then the sharp decrease of Palestinian suicide bomb- 2 rochelle davis ings,6 as well as the widespread use of nonviolent resistance to land confiscations .7 at the same time, the Palestinian authority (Pa) in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza infringed on residents’ freedoms of expression and assembly , targeting civil society organizations in general and human rights organizations in particular.8 This internal repression, coupled with the willingness of the Pa to continue to appear at the negotiating table when called by the United states and Israel, has diminished its legitimacy in the eyes of many Palestinians. The first decade of the twenty-first century also witnessed the beginning of new internal divisions among Palestinian political groups. Following the death in 2004 of Palestinian authority president yasser arafat, the longtime head of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Fatah movement , new political forces mobilized to take over the leadership role. The Islamic resistance Movement (Hamas) agreed to participate in the national legislative elections that took place in 2006. Its entry into the political mainstream signaled its acceptance at that time of the political framework in which the Palestinian authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council existed and was seen as a move toward widespread democratic representation. Israel and the international community responded by penalizing the Palestinians for voting for Hamas, creating new cleavages and more opportunities for internal repression.9 accompanying these political shifts, Palestinian society has witnessed a rise of religious groups and local civil society organizations , and these ties are increasingly important as bases for social identification , reflecting a weakening of the major political parties in the PLO and their associated organizations such as women’s and student groups and labor committees. after 2001, the international community called for or set up no fewer than eight negotiation processes between Palestinians and Israelis, none of which produced tangible changes. While peace, stability, and democratic rule have long been the desired outcomes of these negotiations and elections , it seems evident that for Palestinians they have instead resulted in increased instability, internal political conflict, and continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank. While Israel unilaterally withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza strip in 2005, it remained in control of all borders, trade, and sea access, with the exception of the Gaza border with egypt. Both the 2002 Israeli re-invasion of the West Bank10 and the 2008–2009 and October 2012 .51.3] Project MUSE (2024-04-19 21:13 GMT) Introduction 3 Israeli assaults on Gaza continue to define the way that Palestinians see and feel the power of the Israeli state over their lives. These experiences make them wary of another decade of negotiations and what it might lead to, while at the same...

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