A History of Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Faith, Awareness, and Revolution in the Middle East

A history of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), one of the most important yet least understood Palestinian armed factions.

Erik Skare (Author)

9781108949460, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 10 November 2022

350 pages
22.8 x 15.1 x 1.8 cm, 0.52 kg

'By the end of the book, the reader will have a sense of not only how Palestinian Islamic Jihad came to be, but also why it still exists, despite often being overshadowed by the larger Hamas.' Omar Ahmed, Palestine Book Awards

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is one of the most important yet least understood Palestinian armed factions, both in terms of its history and ideology. Labelled a terrorist organization by the US and the EU, it has grown to become the second largest armed movement in the Gaza Strip and the third largest in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Using a wealth of primary sources, this book traces the history of PIJ from its origins in the early 1980s to today. By looking at how the group was established, how it has developed in theory and practice, and how it understands religion and politics, Skare seeks to answer the key question of why the PIJ still exist despite the presence of its more powerful sister movement Hamas. In doing so, he fills an important empirical gap in the literature on Palestinian Islamism.

Introduction
Part I. The Beginning of PIJ (1967–1988): 1. The roots of PIJ
2. Awareness: the anti-colonial front
3. Organizing the movement: PIJ's recruitment of new militants
4. From students to militants: commencing the armed struggle
Part II. From the First Intifada to the Oslo Agreement (1988–2000): 5. Deportation, patronage, and organizational reform
6. Faith: the conciliatory movement
7. The collapse of PIJ
Part III. From the Second Intifada to the Arab Spring (2000–2017): 8. The comeback of PIJ
9. From strife to the Arab Spring
10. Revolution: PIJ, the state, and civil society
11. Conclusion: Why PIJ?

Subject Areas: Islamic studies [JFSR2], Middle Eastern history [HBJF1], Peace studies & conflict resolution [GTJ]