The Palestinian perception of the Other - the Israeli - has been
largely shaped by the actions perpetrated towards them by the State
of Israel. Israel and Palestine's short history together is fraught
with anger and bloodshed, as a result of a conflict that has been
ongoing for over 100 years. Since 1967, the Israeli occupation of
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has been the source of
confrontation and deadlock over a possible peace. The occupation
has resulted in continuous traumatization of Palestinians due to
the pressures that have been imposed on them on every imaginable
level: political, economic, social and psychological. These have
resulted in a cultural identity that is characterized by stress,
trauma, grief, helplessness, and hopelessness. Palestinians
perceive the Other as the cause of all their suffering, both in the
past and the present. The perception of the Other in terms of
Israelis as a people is difficult to assess. This is due to the
fact that Palestinians have been forced to view the Israelis as
occupiers and to judge them according to political and military
actions.
Lacking in this conflict, on both sides, is a true understanding of
the Other. Perhaps if understanding could be achieved,
communication and conflict resolution would prove to be more
effective. As mentioned above, from the Palestinian perspective
Israel is viewed as a military occupier that has taken, and
continues to take, land from the Palestinian people. This, and the
increasing number of Israeli military outposts, contributes to the
perceived feelings of aggression. The main external stress factors
that affect the population include the occupation, in general, but
on a more specific level, the building of Jewish settlements on
Palestinian land, military force, economic hardships, and travel
and movement restrictions. Examining the Palestinian view of the
Israelis before and after this current Intifada may be useful in
understanding differences in perception in times of peace and
conflict.
Mistrust of the 'Other'
During the first Intifada, which began in late 1987, parameters of
peace were virtually non-existent and occupation was in full force.
Night raids, curfews, imprisonment, restriction on movement,
interrogations and humiliation were used by the occupier at will,
subjecting the Palestinian population to severe suffering. However,
following the signing of the 1993 Oslo Accords, new rules were
established for both parties to follow. Restrictions on the
occupied territories were eased to a degree. For almost six years,
it appeared as though both sides were abiding by these new
agreements and moving closer to stability and peace. The pressures
of occupation were still being felt, yet, compared to the
restrictions experienced during the first Intifada, freedom seemed
just around the corner. For the first time in many years, peace
seemed attainable and the creation of a Palestinian state
inevitable. Trust between the two peoples was starting to build,
although still fragile and in a critical stage. Nonetheless,
Palestinians began to dream of a life of peace; their hopes were
raised and their faith in Israel's word started to take hold.
Although the tension and anger directed towards the Israelis had
subsided, they were never far from the surface. Years of oppression
and conflict could not be so easily forgotten. The slow pace of the
implementation of the Oslo agreement marked the cautious approach
adopted by both parties, and meant that neither side could fully
and readily trust the other. The Palestinians saw very few results
on the ground. The slower the progress, the more frustrated the
Palestinians grew. Tempers reached boiling point with the
provocative visit to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount by the
current Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and his entourage of
soldiers. People's pent-up emotions erupted into the al-Aqsa
Intifada, while the effects of the first Intifada were still fresh
in the minds of most. Thus began a renewed determination to fight
for the freedom of all Palestinians and the creation of a
Palestinian state. The many failures to achieve gains on the ground
and the lack of international intervention in the current crisis
have contributed to the feeling of helplessness among the
Palestinian population.
Although the al-Aqsa Intifada is only in its ninth month (at the
time of writing), as compared to the nearly seven years of the
first uprising, the violence and use of force on the part of
Israel, and the number of casualties and deaths among both peoples,
are incomparable. The Palestinian people are facing a nuclear power
with nothing but stones and the odd light weapon, all totally
useless in the face of sophisticated war machinery. Moving away
from the obviously complex and conflict-laden history, the fact
remains that the view of the Other from both sides continues to be
one of mistrust.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Almost all Palestinians in the occupied territories have
experienced stress and trauma, which will have serious implications
for the future. The widespread nature of the conflict has touched
every area, village and family. With over 500 deaths so far, and
over 10,000 life-threatening injuries (including loss of eyes,
arms, legs and brain function) that will impair the resumption of a
normal life once hostilities end, hundreds of thousands of people
will have been either directly or indirectly affected by violence.
Palestinians are not only prone to the current stress factors, but
their history is beset with similar traumas.
A staggering, record number has been reached of people suffering
from symptoms of stress and trauma-related disorders. Common among
these are Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Acute Stress
Disorder, Adjustment Disorder and Major Depression. Complicated
symptoms of conflict-related stress and trauma must be seriously
considered and treated. Understanding the nature of the trauma and
how it affects the sufferer is essential. Trauma is often
suppressed and can resurface months or years following the
traumatic event. It should be noted that, since many Palestinians
had been exposed to similar traumatic experiences in previous
conflicts (most notably the first Intifada), this unresolved
condition has frequently resurfaced with exposure to the current
conflict. Symptoms of PTSD are often further complicated by
depression. Given the time frame and immediacy of the current
conflict, the Palestinians are in the critical stages for the
development of the above-mentioned disorders.
The following criteria have been shown to increase the risk of
developing PTSD within the Palestinian context:
• a traumatic event that involves actual or threatened death
or injury to oneself or others and a response which involved
intense fear, helplessness or horror;
• a traumatic event persistently re-experienced;
• avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing
of general responsiveness;
• increased arousal;
• duration of symptoms longer than one month; and
• symptoms that impair normal functioning in daily activities
(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition
(DSM-IV), 1999, pp. 427-429).
These characteristics and symptoms can be further complicated by a
delayed onset of symptoms, appearing six months or more after the
incident. It is therefore imperative that treatment of these
symptoms and disorders begin as soon as possible. The Palestinian
population has been exposed to countless acts of violence and
aggression. Many have retreated into an avoidance of everyday
activities for fear of coming under attack, a behavior that
prevents a return to normalcy.
Children, Youth and Women
Most noticeably affected by the conflict are children. Children and
youth under the age of twenty-five make up the majority of the
Palestinian population. They are the most actively involved in the
physical conflicts and account for the largest percentage of people
killed during the al-Aqsa Intifada. Out of 500 deaths, 337 were
children and youth of 25 years of age and under - 67 percent of all
deaths (PRCS Statistical Data). Realizing that environment shapes
childhood development, a negative environment can have disastrous
effects. Many youth still remember and have not fully overcome the
stress and trauma of the previous Intifada. This cumulative nature
and constant exposure to conflict increase the risk of stress and
trauma-related symptoms and disorders. Children and youth are at a
disadvantage, as they have often not developed the ability to
express themselves effectively regarding the stress and personal
conflict they feel. The resulting behavioral changes affect both
the family and classroom dynamic. Common behavioral changes and
symptoms observed include increased aggression, loss of
concentration, inattentiveness, separation anxiety (clinging to
parents), nervousness, negativity, and carelessness. Other symptoms
include nightmares, aggression, fear, changes in appetite,
psychosomatic complaints, and bed-wetting. These symptoms are all
characteristic of PTSD and result from the witnessing of, and
exposure to, trauma and violence.
The perception of the Other through the eyes of Palestinian
children is especially a matter of grave concern. Working with
children in schools has revealed extreme and nearly universal
changes in behavior and attitudes since the beginning of the
al-Aqsa Intifada. Every Palestinian child has been exposed to
direct acts of violence, be it shooting, shelling and bombing, or
participation in physical conflict or subjection to military
brutality. An examination of children's drawings in schools has
demonstrated that the Intifada is a constant preoccupation, with
Israeli military aggression a dominant theme. Images of death,
killing, shooting, military force, house demolition, are common
themes. Thus, Palestinian children's perception of the Other is
solely defined in terms of military aggression and
occupation.
As the central figure in the Palestinian home, women face anxiety,
depression, distress and torment. Not only do they experience their
own fears, but they must also face those of their children and
husbands. Debriefing sessions conducted with women by this writer
and his staff, mainly within the Bethlehem Governorate, have
revealed that the majority of these women are suffering from
symptoms of PTSD. Symptoms observed include loss of appetite,
nervousness, flashbacks, and psychosomatic complaints (such as
headaches and stomach pains). These stem from the unpredictability,
uncertainty and pessimistic outlook of the future due to the
current conflict. Women are isolating themselves and are hesitant
to return to their normal social life. Additionally, they are
suffering from the economic pressures of the conflict. Many are
unable to pay their children's tuition fees or even household
expenses such as food and rent. These stressful experiences all
stem from the Israeli occupation and aggression. They lead to
hatred by women of their current situation and influence their
perception of the Other, who is blamed as the source of all their
misery. Contributing to the difficulties faced by women are the
great pressures placed on their husbands, fathers and
brothers.
Palestinian men suffer in silence from restrictions on movement,
loss of employment, and participation in violence. Many are unable
to provide their families with the basic necessities. As few
psychosocial programs exist to help Palestinian men, they often
suppress the depression and anger they experience. Unfortunately,
in many cases, these frustrations are taken out on the family,
exacerbating the situation at home and destabilizing further their
mental well-being.
The staggering number of homes that have been damaged or demolished
during the last nine months, due to Israeli shelling or bombing,
has caused the displacement of thousands of families. In the small
community of Beit Sahour alone, 276 houses have been destroyed and
over 300 families displaced. House demolition forces families to
seek refuge with their relatives and neighbors. The trauma and
stress felt are thus shared with a wider audience. The loss of
memories and possessions has grave psychological implications.
Children, in particular, suffer from the lack of family stability
and a sense of security that is created within the home. Normal
life for thousands of families will take years to be restored and
rebuilt.
Perceptions of the Conflict
A unique aspect of the conflict that must be taken into
consideration is the Palestinian perception of death as martyrdom.
The Palestinian view that dying while fighting the occupation
results in instant martyrdom influences their attitude towards
violence. Many Palestinians say they are willing to give their
lives for the sake of the freedom and liberation of Palestine. This
serves to taint the perception of the conflict and the need to keep
it going by giving as many lives as necessary. It is well
documented that when normal responses to stress and trauma are
suppressed, and thus not experienced (as is the case with the
"Martyr Effect"), serious psychological complications can develop,
including PTSD. The "Martyr Effect" also affects family
bereavement, how they grieve and mourn the loss of a loved one. The
large number of families that have endured the pain of loss during
the course of this Intifada is overwhelming. The "Martyr Effect"
appears to serve as a coping method to justify loss, but further
research of this phenomenon is required.
Contributing to people's perception of the Other, the media has
become a powerful tool through which the population (on both sides)
has been exposed to the conflict. Propaganda has been used to shape
the collective consciousness of the viewers. The media continues to
exacerbate the conflict through the projection of victimization,
false statements, the justification of violent actions, and
demonization. Technological advances and greater accessibility to
communication media, such as the Internet, have also promoted the
spread of propaganda. On the Palestinian side, the media has been
used to muster national pride, assigning blame and working as a
source of constant updates on the unfolding situation. To a level
never seen before, the media has brought the violence into the
homes of thousands of families, increasing the exposure to violence
and trauma experienced by all. Propaganda on both sides has shaped
a new image of the Other in light of the Intifada. The trend of
dehumanization and reeducating the public into perceiving the Other
as a malicious enemy that cannot be trusted has become the
norm.
The view of the Other from the Palestinian perspective is shaped
largely by the obvious. They see the Israelis as killing their
people and using extreme military force against their civilian
population. They see their homes and possessions being destroyed
and their children suffering from the violence and trauma they
witness on a daily basis. They see their people without jobs and
unable to support their families. The death of one martyr causes an
entire population to mourn. The Palestinians' perception of the
Other arises from the reality around them and their perspectives
change as the reality changes. Once the Intifada ends, the
cumulative effects of the trauma and violence that have been
witnessed will remain a serious concern. Even after the cessation
of violence and the resumption of peace, the population will
continue to suffer from the lasting effects of what they have
experienced. Thankfully, when tensions, stress factors and
restrictions are reduced, so will the anger and mistrust towards
the Other. History has shown that the road to peace and
understanding is a fragile and difficult process. However, it is
only through understanding that peaceful coexistence can be
attained.