Conflict Is Not Abuse: Overstating Harm, Community Responsibility, and the Duty of Repair

by Sarah Schulman

This was not in Gaza, but in Israel, the place that many commentators were extolling for its “democracy.” The demonstrators represented a large cross-section of Palestinian society in Haifa and its environs. Honestly, it could have been taking place in New York. They were westernized, casual; some were religious, but not many. They carried Palestinian flags but no weapons, no protective clothing. Chatting with each other, many were smiling. Something was being expressed and it energized the crowd. Then, a few minutes later, a very large group of Israeli riot police appeared. They were armed and carried sticks, and wore helmets, visors, and bulletproof vests. This was not a demonstration that needed to be repressed or controlled. There was nothing dangerous or inappropriate or out of control. And yet this clearly didn’t matter. The police ritual was designed to enforce obedience, an exercise in overreaction, overstatement, projection, dehumanization. The Palestinians’ reasonable reactions to the murder of their own people were responded to unreasonably by the very people who had caused the pain. Suddenly the police were grabbing, arresting, throwing people to the ground. The demonstrators were wearing t-shirts; the police, armor. And still some of the Palestinians talked back. It was incredible to watch. They may have been afraid, but they knew that what they were saying was true, whether they were saying, “Don’t hurt him” or “This is our right.” They spoke in Hebrew, which...