The shape of things to come? Assessing the effectiveness of suicide attacks and targeted killings

Arbeitspapier

In this paper we assess the effectiveness of suicide attacks and targeted killings in the Second Intifada. We find evidence that the targeted killings of Palestinian leaders by Israel reduce realized Palestinian violence. We find, however, that intended Palestinian violence is increasing at low levels of targeted killings, but decreasing at higher levels. There is little evidence to suggest that suicide bombings against Israelis reduce the number of subsequent Palestinian fatalities. Rather, we find that suicide attacks that kill at least one Israeli lead to subsequent increased incidence and levels of Palestinian fatalities. Our results do not support the notion that suicide attacks and targeted killings follow the tit-for-tat pattern that is commonly postulated in the literature.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 2890

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft
• Subject: Politische Gewalt ; Krieg ; Politischer Konflikt ; Kriegsopfer ; Wirtschaftliche Effizienz ; Israel ; Palästina

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Jaeger, David A. ; Paserman, Marco Daniele
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2007

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/34740
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET