Palestinian Female Suicide Bombers example essay topic

Female Suicide Bombers Suicide bombers have become today's weapon of choice. Middle Eastern terrorists are using suicide bombers because they are low cost, low technology, and a low risk weapon. Suicide bombers have also become readily available, requiring little training, leaving no trace behind, and strike fear into the general population. The success of suicide bombers depends upon an element of surprise, as well as acceptability to targeted area or populations. Both of these required fundamentals have been enjoyed by women suicide bombers. Female suicide bombers were used in the past; however, the recent spat of them in different venues and for different terrorist organizations has largely increased.

In order to understand what propels a woman to engage in violence during war, it is imperative to first understand the complexities of terrorism in the Arab - Israeli conflict, including its prehistoric history, and the roles women have played in warring relative to their cultural norms. There are several reasons that make women engage in this horrific act of violence but they can be counted down as being only a few. Hardly anyone would disagree that war is a heart-wrenching ordeal and that it brings dark anguish upon the people of the society being defended. Yet, war also has a flip side for those engaged in direct fighting as well as those witnessing it. War brings on feelings of exhilaration and states have come to view it as a natural and necessary endeavor that must be undertaken in order to maintain the survival of the nation (Elshtain 24). Oddly enough, the emotions felt by militant Middle Eastern women as they do battle have been described as seductive, rebellious, exciting, sense of purpose, sense of freedom (Elshtain 42).

Moreover, there is no shortage of romance for even during warring, women's femininity continues to lie deep within their spirits. Still they must project a strong persona, one who is just as capable as the men are. Repeatedly, combative women respond to their calling and they do it with remarkable charm and valor. Women's roles in societies have customarily been distinguished from those of men. Their roles in warring also have been clearly delineated and boundaries unmistakably demarcated.

Society, through its body of rules and its numerous institutions, has conventionally dictated their boundaries of militancy. Assisting in subordinate roles is always welcomed and encouraged. Actually fighting in the war is not. Yet women have demanded to be integrated in all aspects of war including frontline fighting. The specifics behind what has driven Palestinian women to become engaged in acts of terrorism are indeed very complex. Palestinian female suicide bombers have deemed it critical to actively and personally declare war on Israel and on the choke hold they have on the Palestinians (Efr at 70).

By blowing themselves up, they believe they contribute in the most honorable way possible to bringing down the enemy. Since January, 2002, Palestinian women have heightened their involvement in the Israeli conflict by joining the ranks of men who use themselves as human bombs and commit acts of suicide bombings. While women commit these militant acts as an attempt to bring resolution to the struggle that is taking place, and not necessarily to break down gender roles, they have nonetheless found themselves challenging traditional standards that prohibit them from engaging in war affairs. A suicide bomber, someone who is willing to die for a cause, is puzzling. What many people still do not know is what exactly a suicide bomber is.

The Institute for Counter Terrorism (ICT) defined suicide bombings as an "operational method in which the very act of the attack is dependent upon the death of the perpetrator. The terrorist is fully aware that if she / he does not kill her / himself, the planned attack will not be implemented" (Waldman 45). The term "suicide bomber" is an emotionally laden term. Some even describe these individuals as "homicide bombers" or "suicide terrorists" to emphasize on the murder and terror brought about by this act. Others deem these individuals as "martyrs" who have solely died for their faith. There are several main characteristics that female suicide bombers portray.

An analysis of the female suicide bombers' characteristics, social backgrounds, and motives therefore reveal that most of them were pushed to the fringes of Palestinian society for violating a Muslim conservative strict code of conduct that is obligatory for Palestinian women. For some of the women, the motive was also vengeance for the death of relatives and loved ones killed in the course of the ongoing violent Palestinian-Israel conflict. In such cases, Palestinian women, both those who are said to be devoted to Islam and those who conduct more secular or free lifestyles, eventually become willing tools (victims) deadly human bombs exploited for the sake of the same Palestinian conflict (Stern 80). This aspect of the confrontation reflects the still rather inferior status of Palestinian women, especially those pushed by the fringes of the powerful Palestinian society, who are forced to perpetuate (or be involved) in the deadly attacks against Israel. Another question that puzzles people: Why use suicide bombers?

Terrorism has been defines as a synthesis of war and theatre. This descriptor aptly applies to female suicide bombings. Suicide bombing is used because it is first of all a simple and low cost operation that requires no escape route or rescue mission. It increases the likely hood of mass casualties and extensive damage since the bomber can choose the exact time, location, and circumstances of the attack.

There is also no fear that terrorists will surrender important information because their deaths are certain. It also has an immense impact on the public and the media because it precipitates on overwhelming sense of helplessness. It can be noted that suicide terrorism inflicts profound fear and anxiety and produces a negative psychological effect on an entire population and not just on the victims of the actual attack. Finally, a suicide bomber attracts wide media coverage and is seen as a news worthy event.

Organizations which routinely use suicide bombers have utilized the notion of "martyrdom" and "self sacrifice" as a means of last resort against their conventionally more powerful enemies. These groups believe that suicide bombs are successful in bringing notice to their plight and contend that suicide bombers are the only effective weapons they have, in contrast to their enemies much larger wealth, weapons, soldiers and political means. Abu Shana b, a Hamas leader, stated that "all that is required is a bomb, a detonator, and a moment of courage and courage is the scarce resource" (Stern 96). The speculation of why women would be interested in participating in this destructive act is also very interesting. The reasons that women's participation in deadly attacks vary great ely and it is hard to generalize, for this phenomenon is too recent and the attacks have been to few.

Either not enough research has been conducted yet or the sample size is too small to make effective generalizations. Although the data is limited, female suicide bombers, just like male suicide bombers, have one main characteristic which typifies all-they are young. The average age varies from 21.5 to 23, which is a very small differential. Other characteristics do not hold since some are widows and others have never been married. Some are unemployed and others are professionals; some are poor and others are middle class. What was strange was that a similarity was found between the Black Widows in Russia and the Palestinian suicide bombers, since they both appear to be serving struggles of national identity with religious motives (Waldman 67).

Additionally it must be noted that several female suicide bombers have experienced the loss of a close friend or family member. The selection of women for suicide operations and the methods used to persuade them generally are similar to those employed to men. The recruiters take advantage of the candidates' innocence, enthusiasm, personal distress and thirst for revenge. Particularly with the issues that surround the growing conflict between Israel and Palestine, more women suicide bombers are expected to be seen.

Since most of the information is focused on reasons it is important to inform on the ways they are trained. Until recently, very little has been known about the female suicide bombers' training. Indeed, in February 2003 the ICT published an article that stated that Palestinian female bombers were not trained nor prepared psychologically for suicide attacks. However, the most recent information, which came from women themselves have either backed out or been unsuccessful in bombing attempts, proved that wrong. Palestinian officials maintain that the female suicide bombers were trained abroad by Islamic fundamentalists outside of Palestine, are paid for abroad, and are organized by the head of the Arab agents of Al Qaeda. All potential bombers are thoroughly trained by Arab psychologists and demolition experts (Schweitzer 80).

This was confirmed when Z arima Madhu, the first live (martyr), was captured when her purse was filled with 1.5 kilograms of military-issue explosives failed to detonate. In Israel, 25 year old Tawriya Hama mra, from the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, also discussed the training she received in May 2002 before she decided to abort her mission. Two weeks before her mission, she was sent to Nablus, met by a Fatah official, placed in a student flat, and began training. Four people trained her in two 45-minute sessions on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday she told the trainers that she had changed her mind.

Although they were very angry, they allowed her to leave. She was then arrested the next day in an Israeli raid in the nearby city of Tulkrm. Although profiling suicide bombers may be a fascinating academic challenge, it is less relevant in the real world struggle against terrorism than understanding the people that operate as terrorist leaders. It makes much sense to then be more concerned with structural issues: almost nobody does this as an individual. The need is pointed out to counter terrorist organizations since suicide organizations is an organizational phenomenon, the struggle against it can not be conducted on an individual level (Stern 203).

Most important, organizations only implement suicide terrorism if their community approves of its use. Research shows that terrorist organizations will continue to use suicide bomber tactics and employ female suicide bombers. A comprehensive counter terrorism plan should recognize the increasing potential for the use of female suicide bombers. The struggle then must continue to lead the way against this terrible way of thinking. With more time and research, it will be easier to understand the real motives and truth behind the thinking of these Middle Eastern women, since they have now gotten to the point in also believing that dying is greater than living.