VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4, 2009 <Previous Next> The Shape of Things to Come? On the Dynamics of Suicide Attacks and Targeted Killings David A. Jaeger M. Daniele Paserman SUGGESTED CITATION: David A. Jaeger and M. Daniele Paserman (2009) "The Shape of Things to Come? On the Dynamics of Suicide Attacks and Targeted Killings", Quarterly Journal of Political Science: Vol. 4:No 4, pp 315-342. http:/dx.doi.org/10.1561/100.00009013 Download this article Associated files: Replication Data Tell a Colleague Get Acrobat Reader Printing Tip: Select the option to 'print as image' in the Acrobat print dialog to ensure the article prints as it appears on screen. Learn more... In this paper we examine the dynamics 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. We find that suicide bombings that kill at least one Israeli lead to a subsequent increase in the 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.

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