Social media could change the conflict

With violence engulfing Palestine, it is time to use social media to encourage non-violence

A Palestinian man is pushed an Israeli policemen amid clashes in Hebron, West Bank. Nasser Shiyoukhi / AP Photo

There can be no denying that the violence between Israelis and Palestinians that has been surging for weeks is spiralling out of control. From stabbing attacks to mass arrests and missile strikes, Israelis and Palestinians are in the grip of a violent cycle that could easily develop into a sustained Palestinian uprising or intifada. We are not quite there yet. There is still time for cooler heads to prevail and bring both populations back from the brink.

Unlike previous uprisings, the current round of violence is already defined by the quick circulation of updates on social media. Never before has the international community been afforded such an intimate view of events unfolding on the ground almost as they happen. After the Arab Spring, more people than ever look to social media to complement traditional news coverage from this region.

A third intifada, if it materialises, will be widely disseminated. Images of the dead and wounded will be shared on WhatsApp and Facebook. Videos of attacks will be broadcast on YouTube and Snapchat. This presents a rare opportunity for Palestinians to highlight their position and generate global support for their case. The tools are there but their power can only be maximised if they are in the hands of credible civil society groups. The goal must be highlighting the daily brutality of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and control over the Gaza Strip.

Global pressure on Israel to end its control over Palestinian livelihoods is the most intelligent way to end the occupation. We only need to look at the struggle against the apartheid regime in South Africa for proof that non-violent resistance can be so much more powerful than violence.

Now that the world’s attention is on the conflict and there is a steady stream of horrifying events flashing on our television screens, Palestinians must think of constructive ways to avoid a protracted armed conflict with Israel. For they have never been able to match Israel’s strength and recklessness on the battlefield.

Once the world is made aware of the difficulty of living under occupation, however, obvious calls to nonviolent action such as the global boycott, divestment and sanction movement will become stronger. Israel is fighting to preserve its occupation. As such, nonviolent resistance remains one of Palestine’s strongest weapons.