Thresholds of repression and criminalisation of oppositional political activism in the Israeli setter state: a preliminary investigation

Journal article


Weizman, E. (2023). Thresholds of repression and criminalisation of oppositional political activism in the Israeli setter state: a preliminary investigation. Justice, Power and Resistance . 6 (2), p. 188–206. https://doi.org/10.1332/LHOP4894
AuthorsWeizman, E.
Abstract

This article investigates processes of criminalisation and mechanisms of repression and control of oppositional political activism of Israel’s citizens, both Palestinians and Jews, given the state’s particular political formation as a ‘liberal settler state’ (Robinson 2013). In order to do so, the article traces the ‘threshold of threat’ that leads to criminalisation and repression in Israel. I argue that the process of criminalisation and repression is tied with the construction of the concept of ‘threat’ and is always bound with race-making. Further, the article treats criminalisation as a multi-layered process involving both state and non-state actors, and a range of informal and formal strategies. I further argue that the operational logic of the settler state dictates the strategies used to tolerate, contain, limit or crush dissent altogether. Since the Israeli state strives to maintain privileges to its Jewish citizenry, we can trace more reliance on ‘informal’ strategies of criminalisation towards its Jewish citizens, led by civil society organisations and actors, while the ‘formal’ strategies, led by the state, are preserved almost exclusively for dealing with Palestinian political activism. Finally, I argue that unravelling processes of criminalisation and oppression, triggered by the crossing of the threshold of threat, exposes state vulnerabilities and fragility. By tracing the shifting thresholds of threat we gain a window into the precarity of such system of power and how it can be challenged and transformed. We can also learn what opportunities for resistance exist and what ‘openings’ must be seized.

KeywordsCriminalisation; repression; dissent; liberal settler state; Israel
Year2023
JournalJustice, Power and Resistance
Journal citation6 (2), p. 188–206
PublisherBristol University Press
ISSN 2635-2338
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1332/LHOP4894
Web address (URL)https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/jpr/6/2/article-p188.xml
Publication dates
Online29 May 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted05 May 2023
Deposited10 May 2023
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Additional information

This is the author's post-acceptance version and it is not to be cited

Permalink -

https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/93yw4

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
Thresholds of criminalisation and repression_WeizmanE.docx
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 82
    total views
  • 17
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

At the threshold of criminalisation: repression of ‘oppositional’ civil society organisations in the Israeli settler state
Weizman, E. (2024). At the threshold of criminalisation: repression of ‘oppositional’ civil society organisations in the Israeli settler state. Critical Studies on Security.
Criminalisation of political activism: a conversation across disciplines
Cristiano, F., Dadusc, D., Davanna, T., Duff, K., Gilmore, J., Rossdale, C., Rossi, F., Tatour, A., Tatour, L., Tufail, W. and Weizman, E. (2023). Criminalisation of political activism: a conversation across disciplines. Critical Studies on Security. https://doi.org/10.1080/21624887.2023.2188628
The anticolonial settler: reflections on citizenship, violence and decolonisation
Weizman, E. (2022). The anticolonial settler: reflections on citizenship, violence and decolonisation. Citizenship Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/13621025.2022.2086298
Stories from the 'Roads' of Empire
Redwood, H., Kamiloglu, O. and Weizman, E. (2021). Stories from the 'Roads' of Empire. Borough Road Gallery 16 - 23 Nov 2021
Yara Hawari, Sharri Plonski, and Elian Weizman, eds., “Settlers and Citizens: A Critical View of Israeli Society” (New Texts Out Now)
Weizman, E., Hawari, Y. and Plonski, S. (2019). Yara Hawari, Sharri Plonski, and Elian Weizman, eds., “Settlers and Citizens: A Critical View of Israeli Society” (New Texts Out Now).
Book Review: The dynamics of exclusionary constitutionalism: Israel as a Jewish and democratic state by Mazen Masri
Weizman, Elian (2019). Book Review: The dynamics of exclusionary constitutionalism: Israel as a Jewish and democratic state by Mazen Masri. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/13530194.2019.1585075
Introduction: Settlers and Citizens: A Critical View of Israeli Society
Hawari, Y., Plonski, S. and Weizman, E. (2018). Introduction: Settlers and Citizens: A Critical View of Israeli Society. Settler Colonial Studies. 9 (1), pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/2201473X.2018.1486547
Seeing Israel through Palestine: knowledge production as anti-colonial praxis
Weizman, E., Hawari, Y. and Plonski, S. (2018). Seeing Israel through Palestine: knowledge production as anti-colonial praxis. Settler Colonial Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/2201473X.2018.1487129
Decolonising Israeli society? Resistance to Zionism as an educative practice
Weizman, E. (2017). Decolonising Israeli society? Resistance to Zionism as an educative practice. ethnicities. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468796816666593
The Paradox of Breaking the Silence
Weizman, E. (2016). The Paradox of Breaking the Silence. Jadaliyya.
Cause Lawyering and Resistance in Israel
Weizman, E. (2016). Cause Lawyering and Resistance in Israel. Social & Legal Studies. 25 (1), pp. 43-68. https://doi.org/10.1177/0964663915587158
Palestinian Family Unification in Israel: The Limits of Litigation as Means of Resistance
Weizman, Elian (2013). Palestinian Family Unification in Israel: The Limits of Litigation as Means of Resistance. Critical Legal Thinking.