Digital Jihad: Palestinian Resistance in the Digital Era

Erik Skare

Language: English

Publisher: Zed Books

Published: Oct 15, 2016

Description:

An innovative and technology-driven form of dissent has emerged in response to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Dubbed “electronic jihad,” this approach by groups of Palestinian hackers has made international headlines by breaching the security of websites, such as the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Avira, Whatsapp, and BitDefender. Though initially confined to small clandestine groups, interest in hacktivism continues to grow and is being adopted by militant Palestinian parties, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, groups which are now incorporating hackers into their ranks.

Based on extensive firsthand interviews with Palestinian hackers and other activists, Digital Jihad is the first book to look at the increasing role of hacktivism in the Palestinian resistance movement. Erik Skare provides unique insight into the evolution of the movement within Palestine as well as its place within the global transformation of activism, which has embraced technology—and its disruption—as a form of protest.