Been reading more of
Hollow Lands by the Israeli architect Eyal Weissmann
Written in 2007 its an architects view of the occupation.
The chapter read today is about the IDF. Modelling and remaking the urban environment. Ex military like Sharon ( planning location of settlements )and also IDf themselves are part of this.
Back when he wrote the book there was a move to pacification rather than conflict.
Or rather that was the theory.
The Israeli army developed new tactics to fight in urban environment.
Using post modern theory looked at fighting a non conventional war. Heavily defended refugee camps were made up of narrow alleys that could be well defending by lightly armed guerilla army. So instead of attacking in obvious way IDF "walked through the wall". Treating the architectural space in radical way- gained from IDF military advisors studying postmodern architectural theory. So instead of going through alleyways where they could be attacked easily they blow holes in peoples housing. Burrowing through and making a new architectural space. Second the command structure would be decentralised allowing groups of IDF to "swarm". Act more like insects - finding a way where knowledge was not top down. They borrowed from radical post modern theory not for its radical goals but its critique of structure and top down management.
( To add my knowledge of this kind of theory is very sketchy. So taking Eyal word for this. He does say he is not criticising the theory. But he does say this could be seen as example of what Marcuse ( Frankfurt Marxist) said about how in late capitalism all radical opposition ideas are co opted)
It was part of the idea from the more liberal end of IDF. Who saw a peace process with withdrawal of IDF troops from Palestinian areas. But with right of IDF to enter (swarm) in and out for security reasons. This was part of a particular idea of the two state solution. Which as Eyal Weissmann points out was very much less than a real state for Palestinians. He introduces idea of vertical apartheid. Where ground level might have some Palestinian self government but the sky ( fighter aircraft) and most of resources under ground ( water) would still be under Israeli control.
Apart from fact Palestinian fighters adapted to these new tactics what was found in end was that old school crushing force was still needed. Armoured bulldozers for example
However it did mean that for IDF the difference between civilian space and fighters space was broken down. Previously some refugee camps had been no go areas.
I have found something by him on recent Gaza. But not watched that yet.
Seems to me that what is happening in Gaza is in some ways a move away from pacification to totally re creating Gaza.
In book Eyal Weissmann does say where there is an architecture of the oppressor there is a counter architecture. Tunneling being one of them. Adapting to changes in IDF strategy by tunneling. Of course this is much more difficult to write about as it is secret.
It does look like whilst IDF have been systematically destroying homes and infrastructure the war against a guerrilla army based underground in tunnels isn't going so well.
In his book he points out things like the Separation Wall in West Bank was not just about keeping Palestinians out. It was also about keeping them under observation.
One of the things about Israel pulling out of Gaza was that observation was limited. In West Bank its impossible for Palestinians to move anywhere without going through checkpoints.
Cant rate this book more highly. Of all the ones I've read on present day Israel this is a must read. Its a bit out of date due to when it was published. But this is interesting to. As shows how military priorities change and alter over time, As well as political ones. And IDF is very close to politics. Ex military top brass end up as politicians and businessmen.
