7 - Terrorism in Israel/Palestine

Summary

The history of terrorism in Israel/Palestine is a history of increasingly interwoven terrorisms. These terrorisms have been employed by both ‘sides’ in the conflict, Israeli and Palestinian, in different manifestations for over one hundred years, responding to internal and external pressures, and also reflecting and informing wider forces of change that have characterised the political histories of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. A historical approach is thus not only helpful, but indeed crucial, for understanding the use of terrorism by various actors in Israel/Palestine, and also for recognising terrorism’s short- and long-term influences on the trajectory of the conflict. Situating terrorism in Israel/Palestine in broader historical and political contexts can also help us answer broader questions, both academic and policy-oriented, regarding the causes, consequences, and appropriate responses to political violence.