Citation

Moghadam A. Stud. Conflict Terrorism 2003; 26(2): 65-92.

Affiliation

The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10576100390145215

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicide terrorism has developed into a widely used tactic, and arguably one of the major strategic threats facing some countries. This article explores various issues related to Palestinian suicide terrorism by presenting a two-phase model to explain the processes and factors underlying the development of Palestinian suicide bombers, and the execution of suicide bombing attacks. The model is applied to the case of suicide attacks that have occurred in the course of the first 21 months of the Second Intifada, from September 2000 to June 2002. The assumptions of the model are tested by taking an in-depth look into the various motives leading individual Palestinians to volunteer for suicide missions, and by discussing the activities and major functions of the organizations that have employed this modus operandi in the specified time frame. It will be concluded that while a counter-terrorism strategy aimed at targeting terrorist organizations may offer short-term gains, in the long run Israel will need to identify ways of removing or reducing the incentives that lead some Palestinians to volunteer for suicide missions.

Language: en