Yoram Schweitzer was hard at work on an article about how there is no one profile of a suicide terrorist. And in the middle of writing it, 9/11 happened.
“I never completed it, but since then I’ve established that fact,” said the Israeli expert in global terrorism, who will be speaking in the Bay Area next month. “I wrote it then because I’ve been dealing with the international suicide phenomenon and can find similarities in tactics, but there’s a wide range in age, education, social status, gender, culture and religion. So you can’t find one profile.”
Schweitzer, a fellow at the Tel Aviv-based Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies, has been studying international terrorism for more than 20 years. The Israeli Consulate is sponsoring his visit.
His research has taken him to the prison cells of “failed” Palestinian suicide bombers — those who were caught on the way to carry out an attack — and those who recruit the bombers. He has spent hours with them in their cells, without guards, sometimes full days, gaining their trust so they will speak openly with him.
Several groups use suicide attacks, he said, such as the Kurds in Turkey or the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. But Schweitzer said the Palestinians are unique in one respect: “They are fighting against what they see as the occupation, and that gives them not only the pretext, but legitimacy for almost any operation they are doing.”
Religion is not the primary motivating factor. “Their main motivation is articulated in national terms rather than religious ones.” While their religion gives them comfort as they are carrying out their mission, their actions “are justified because they are fighting somebody who humiliates and oppresses them, who conquers them.”
Schweitzer estimates he has interviewed more than 50 men and eight women. He says that he has learned how to build up trust so that his subjects will speak candidly with him. He assures them he is a researcher and not working for Israeli intelligence.
“How do you gain someone’s trust? You talk to them, you don’t deceive them,” he said. “I don’t have a latent secret agenda.”
Schweitzer has found that oftentimes the potential bombers enter prison and know nothing about Israelis; they have to completely dehumanize them to be able to kill civilians so readily. But after being in prison for an extended time, something happens, especially to the recruiters, who are usually older and more educated.
“I contradict what they see as ultimate truth,” he said. “They begin to see that there are other narratives and perspectives.”
The longer they stay in prison, the more time they have to educate themselves, he said. “They read about Israel, and study and open up, so they are more curious.” Schweitzer also does his best to educate them about the Israeli psyche and the Holocaust. He also gives them a hard time, telling them that he believes no matter how “just” their cause, the killing of innocent civilians can never be justified.
According to Schweitzer, the bombers are not necessarily lacking morality. “But because of their own suffering, they don’t have the emotional space to feel the suffering of Israelis.”
Schweitzer keeps a certain remoteness as a researcher, but oftentimes does develop some sort of relationship with his subjects.
He has even heard some potential bombers express remorse for what they’ve done. “They may not see Israel as a just country but they may realize there is more to Israelis than they thought.”
Schweitzer said he finds the terrorists attentive and good listeners, and curious about what he has to say.
“Sometimes I catch them when they are very focused and I see the wheels operating,” he said. “I’m not naive to think that I am changing them, but it gives them another perspective.”
Yoram Schweitzer will speak 7 p.m. Monday, May 16, at Temple Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood City. Tickets: $5. Information: (650) 961-1922 or [email protected]. He will speak 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, at Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake St., S.F. Information: (415) 751-2535 or [email protected].