Neve Gordon, Israel’s Occupation

What are the 3 main types of power Israel uses in the occupation?

• Disciplinary Power: Controls individuals. Think ID cards, checkpoints, surveillance.

• Biopower: Manages the population. Things like permits for farming, controlling water and birth rates.

• Sovereign Power: Violence and force. Arrests, demolitions, shootings.

Why does Gordon say the occupation isn’t just about tanks?

Because it also uses laws, offices, permits, roads, and maps to control people’s lives without looking like a military occupation.

What’s the "Matrix of Control"?

A web of laws, checkpoints, walls, and permits that make it nearly impossible for Palestinians to move freely or build a normal life.

How does Israel make the occupation feel "normal"?

By hiding it in bureaucracy and services—like giving water or healthcare while still controlling everything. Makes it seem "helpful."

What is the Green Line and why does it matter?

It was the border between Israel and the occupied territories after 1948. But now it's been erased in maps and minds, blending occupation into everyday life.

What does Gordon mean by "Janus face of occupation"?

It’s two-faced. One side looks modern and caring. The other side is violent and colonial.

Why didn’t Israel give Palestinians citizenship?

Because Israel wants the land, not the people. Giving citizenship would threaten the Jewish majority.

What happened when Palestinians started working in Israel?

It raised their income but also made them see how unequal things were. That awareness led to the First Intifada.

What is "remote control" or "outsourced occupation"?

After the Intifada, Israel let the Palestinian Authority (PA) manage the people, while Israel still controlled the land, borders, and resources.

Why did the First Intifada matter?

It proved that Israel’s control wasn’t total. People resisted even under intense restrictions. It was a wake-up call that Palestinians couldn’t be pacified just with jobs and permits.

What role do settlements play?

They aren't just homes. Settlers act like civilian police. They watch, report, and disrupt Palestinian life.

How does the occupation mess with Palestinian identity?

Through censorship, changing school books, and setting up local councils to replace national leaders. Still, identity resisted and grew stronger.

What are some examples of Israeli control tools?

• ID cards and registries

• Home demolitions

• Checkpoints

• Permits for EVERYTHING (building, farming, even marriage)

• Legal system that calls resistance "terrorism"

Why does Gordon think Israel calls it a "civil administration"?

To rebrand the occupation as something neutral or even good. Makes it seem like just another government office, not a system of control.

What’s the main takeaway from Gordon’s argument?

Occupation isn’t just about soldiers. It’s about a full system of control that looks normal on the outside but is deeply violent and unjust.