The Joint Advocacy Initiative carried out research with a sample of young people from the Bethlehem area, examining the Palestinian youth attitude towards non-violent struggle against occupation and oppressive practices.

The research results formed the basis for understanding the political and cultural needs of participants in non-violent struggle projects. It will also inform the guidelines for evaluating the existing projects' strengths and weaknesses, and highlight necessary revisions and changes.

The research was carried out on young people aged between 18 - 25, from September to October, 2006, using an SPSS software analysis program; taking into account education, social background, religious activity, political involvement, age, gender.. etc.

The research results were gathered, organized, and printed in an English - Arabic booklet.

Download research results in PDF

Some of the subsequent recommendations were:

• Religion has a central role in the life and culture of Palestinian people, and must be given due consideration.
• The importance of working with both genders equally.
• The need to include the various political parties in any non-violent projects or initiatives, for the huge influence they have inside Palestinian society.
• There is a pressing need for public awareness of, and instruction in, the concept of non-violent struggle, its strategies and methods of implementation.
• Media coverage on the success and proliferation of this attitude towards struggle is very much needed.
• The creation of various ways to cope with the participant’s different perspectives and attitudes.
• To plan to achieve stated goals, and see them through to completion, rather than to work in reaction to unforeseen incidents.
• Groups working in advocacy and non-violent struggle should expand their work to cover the largest possible youth sector.