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Unity beyond Fractures: Palestinian Resistance as Interplay between Unity and Fracture
Abstract
This paper critically engages with the lived experience of the concepts ‘unity’ and ‘fracture’ among diverse, self-ascribed Palestinian resistance groups. While social movement and resistance theory conceptualizes fracture (division in political discourse, contentious repertoire and space) as negative and thus as something to be overcome, and unity as positive and thus as something to strive for, I argue that the interplay between fracture and unity constitutes a foundational aspect of contemporary Palestinian resistance. Based on nineteen months of anthropological fieldwork in Palestine-Israel, encompassing annexed Jerusalem and besieged Gaza, along with digital ethnography, this paper links the Unity Intifada (2021) and Operation al Aqsa Flood (2023), contextualizing both within a broader socio-political continuum of resistance. Prioritizing the lived experience of contemporary Palestinian resistance fighters, both armed and non-violent, this paper first demonstrates how Israel’s varied oppressive practices engendered spatial fractures, political discourse divisions, and fractured contentious repertoires among ’48 Palestinians, Palestinians from the West Bank, Gaza, as well as between them and Palestinians in the diaspora. Second, it will be argued that merely conceptualizing these fractures as divisions, needing to be overcome to reach Palestinian unity, fails to capture the complexity of Palestinian resistance. Finally, the argument posits that the current 'unity' among Palestinian resistance is not based on overcame fractures in space, political discourse, or contentious repertoires. Rather, it is grounded in acknowledging and emphasizing differences based on fractured everyday experiences. This unity rests on accepting and encouraging a multitude of resistances stemming from these fractured everyday experiences of oppression. This paper makes a substantial contribution to Palestinian resistance and broader resistance studies in three key ways. Firstly, it critiques the prevailing discourse on cohesion within contemporary resistance movements, contending that unity and fractures are intricately interwoven in everyday experiences. By emphasizing interaction, it advances theoretical understanding. Secondly, it presents an ethnographic study of Palestinian resistance that transcends geographic divisions, encompassing Gaza, West Bank, '48 territories, and selected diaspora, offering a holistic analysis grounded in ethnographic description. Thirdly, the paper delves into the description, analysis, and discussion of two recent periods of heightened contention—the Unity Intifada and the 2023-24 Israel-Gaza conflict—within a socio-historical framework, emphasizing the complexity of current events. In doing so, it fosters debate and bridges the often artificial gap between academic discourse and political opinion.
Discipline
Anthropology
Geographic Area
Gaza
Israel
Palestine
Sub Area
None