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Israeli snipers in the Al-Aqsa intifada: killing, humanity and lived experience

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  • Neta Bar
  • Eyal Ben-Ari

Abstract

This article is an analysis of Israeli military snipers who served during the Al-Aqsa intifada. It takes issue with the scholarly consensus that, for such acts to take place, perpetrators have to somehow dehumanise their enemies. Based on interviews with 30 individuals, it shows that snipers do not always need to dehumanise their targets and that they experience killing in conflicting ways, both as pleasurable and as disturbing. The snipers simultaneously deploy distancing mechanisms aimed at dehumanising enemies and constantly recognise their basic humanity. The article ends on a cautionary note: violence should not be seen as only belonging to the realm of the pathological. Rather we must be aware of rules of legitimate violence, the culturally specific ideology of violence at work in specific cases. This kind of ideology may ‘humanse’ enemies but still classify them as opponents against which violence may be legitimately used.

Suggested Citation

  • Neta Bar & Eyal Ben-Ari, 2005. "Israeli snipers in the Al-Aqsa intifada: killing, humanity and lived experience," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(1), pages 133-152, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ctwqxx:v:26:y:2005:i:1:p:133-152
    DOI: 10.1080/0143659042000322955
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    Cited by:

    1. Shaul Kimhi & Shifra Sagy, 2008. "Moral justification and feelings of adjustment to military law-enforcement situation: the case of Israeli soldiers serving at army roadblocks," Mind & Society: Cognitive Studies in Economics and Social Sciences, Springer;Fondazione Rosselli, vol. 7(2), pages 177-191, November.

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