First intifada

Definition

The first intifada, also known as the Palestinian uprising, was a grassroots rebellion that took place from 1987 to 1993 against Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It marked a significant shift in the Palestinian resistance movement, emphasizing popular mobilization and civil disobedience rather than armed conflict, and it drew international attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The first intifada began in December 1987 after a traffic incident involving an Israeli military vehicle and Palestinian workers, which escalated into widespread protests.
2. Key tactics of the intifada included strikes, boycotts of Israeli products, and nonviolent protests, making it a mass movement involving Palestinians from all walks of life.
3. The uprising saw significant participation from women and children, reflecting a community-wide mobilization against Israeli policies.
4. The Israeli response involved military action, including curfews, arrests, and the use of live ammunition against protestors, which garnered international condemnation.
5. The first intifada eventually led to negotiations between Israel and the PLO, culminating in the Oslo Accords in 1993, which aimed to establish a framework for peace.

Review Questions

• How did the tactics used during the first intifada differ from previous forms of Palestinian resistance?
  • The first intifada shifted the focus from armed resistance to popular mobilization through nonviolent methods such as strikes, boycotts, and civil disobedience. This grassroots approach allowed for widespread participation among Palestinians, including women and children. The emphasis on nonviolence marked a significant change in strategy that aimed to gain international sympathy and support for the Palestinian cause.
• Discuss the impact of the first intifada on international perceptions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • The first intifada brought global attention to the struggles of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. The media coverage of violent confrontations and human rights abuses highlighted the realities of life in the occupied territories. This increased visibility helped shift international opinion, leading to greater advocacy for Palestinian rights and putting pressure on both sides to engage in dialogue, ultimately contributing to the initiation of peace negotiations.
• Evaluate the long-term consequences of the first intifada on subsequent developments in Israeli-Palestinian relations.
  • The first intifada had profound long-term effects on Israeli-Palestinian relations by setting the stage for the Oslo Accords and changing how both sides viewed negotiations. While it initiated a peace process aimed at resolving conflicts, it also highlighted deep-rooted grievances that persisted even after these agreements. The cycle of violence that followed subsequent uprisings and continued disputes demonstrated that while some progress was made towards peace, the underlying issues remained unresolved, leading to ongoing tensions in the region.

Related terms

Oslo Accords:

A series of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) aimed at achieving a peace process and establishing Palestinian self-governance.

PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization): An organization founded in 1964 representing the Palestinian people, which aimed to create an independent Palestinian state and was instrumental in the first intifada.

Civil Disobedience:

A form of nonviolent protest against laws or government policies that are seen as unjust, which was a key tactic during the first intifada.