Introduction
Suppression of resistance is not commonly mentioned when analyzing Israeli
policies of forced population transfer, yet it is a policy that affects all aspects
of Palestinians’ lives and directly contributes to the creation of a coercive
environment that results in the displacement of Palestinians.
For a comprehensive study of this policy, we have adopted a broad
interpretation of resistance including all acts perceived by Israel as a threat
to its dominance and control of Mandate Palestine.5 This is why we have
incorporated Palestinian steadfastness or resilience, known as ‘sumud’
in Arabic, to our examination of suppression of resistance. The concept of
sumud broadly refers to the Palestinian national awareness or determination
to remain in their homes and homeland despite the coercive environment
imposed on them by Israel. In the face of ongoing Israeli attempts to erase
Palestinian history and culture, especially in Israel and East Jerusalem, we
have also included Palestinian efforts to retain and strengthen their education,
identity, and culture as a form of resistance.
The Israeli policy of suppression of resistance works in two ways. Some of
the individual policies of suppression involve the direct forcible displacement
of Palestinians from their homes; actions that can amount to the crime of
forcible transfer and/or deportation when applied to Palestinians living
in the oPt, and forced displacement vis-à-vis Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Sending Palestinian prisoners to the Gaza Strip or abroad upon release, or the
forcible relocation of Bedouins to townships in the Naqab are instances of
this kind of policy. In other cases, the Israeli policies of suppression displace
Palestinians indirectly, by creating an atmosphere of coerciveness, duress,
and psychological oppression that leaves those subjected to these policies
with no option but to leave their homes.
Furthermore, by suppressing Palestinian resistance, the implementation of
other policies of forced population transfer becomes more straightforward.
5
Mandate or Mandatory Palestine refers to the territory that was under British administration between
1920 and 1948. This territory today encompasses the oPt and Israel
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