The first cases of the 1983 West Bank fainting epidemic begin; Israelis and Palestinians accuse each other of poison gas, but the cause is later determined mostly to be psychosomatic.

The spring of 1983 brought a perplexing and deeply unsettling phenomenon to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, an event now widely known as the 1983 West Bank fainting epidemic. Spanning late March and early April, this mysterious wave of illness saw hundreds, primarily young Palestinian women, suddenly gripped by episodes of fainting and dizziness. The incident quickly transcended a mere health concern, becoming a highly charged political issue that reflected the deep-seated tensions of the region.

The Mysterious Outbreak: Symptoms and Scope

Beginning in late March 1983, reports surged from multiple towns across the West Bank detailing a curious ailment. Large numbers of individuals, predominantly teenage Palestinian girls, began complaining of sudden fainting spells and intense dizziness. While the vast majority affected were these young Palestinian women, a smaller contingent of female Israeli soldiers also reported similar symptoms, underscoring the widespread, if specific, nature of the phenomenon. The scale was significant, leading to a remarkable 943 hospitalizations in a short period, creating alarm and confusion across communities.

Anatomy of a Psychological Event

By April 1983, a consensus began to emerge among investigators: the primary cause of the widespread illness was psychological. Researchers, in their subsequent analyses, have pointed to mass hysteria, or mass psychogenic illness (MPI), as the most probable explanation for the epidemic. MPI is a phenomenon where groups of people experience similar physical symptoms without an identifiable organic cause, often triggered by psychological stress, fear, or suggestion, especially in emotionally charged environments. In the West Bank of 1983, a region rife with political complexity and daily anxieties, the conditions were ripe for such an outbreak.

Accusations and Counter-Accusations: A Political Firestorm

Despite the medical conclusion of a psychological cause, the fainting spells ignited a furious exchange of accusations between Israeli and Palestinian factions, quickly escalating the health crisis into a political one. The atmosphere was already fraught with distrust, and the epidemic provided fertile ground for conspiracy theories on both sides. Israel, for instance, responded to the outbreak by arresting some Palestinians, alleging that political agitation was the true motive behind the phenomenon. The New York Times vividly captured the volatile climate, reporting on Palestinian leaders accusing Israeli settlers and officials of employing "chemical warfare" in West Bank schools, a heinous tactic allegedly aimed at driving Arabs out of the area. Conversely, some Israeli officials pointed fingers at radical Palestinian factions, accusing them of using gas or chemicals to intentionally incite demonstrations and unrest.

Investigators' Findings and the Role of the Media

Ultimately, investigators concluded that the wave of complaints was predominantly a result of mass hysteria. While they acknowledged the possibility that some environmental irritant might have been present at the very beginning, serving as a catalyst, the vast majority of cases were deemed psychosomatic. This view was echoed by a Palestinian health official, who estimated that roughly 20% of the initial cases might have involved the inhalation of some kind of gas, but emphatically stated that the remaining 80% were psychosomatic in nature.

Dr. Albert Hefez, who led the Israeli psychiatric investigation into the incident, meticulously documented how both the Israeli press and Palestinian medical personnel inadvertently fueled the mass hysteria. Hefez observed that early reporting in the Israeli press, by speculating about "poison" and quoting unnamed Israeli army officials who suggested Palestinian militants were using nerve gas to provoke an uprising, inadvertently spread panic. This narrative, in turn, prompted Arab medical personnel to conclude that the "poison" must originate from the Israeli side, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of fear and suspicion.

Baruch Modan, the then-director general of Israel's health ministry, independently arrived at a similar conclusion, stating that most victims suffered from a psychological malady. Interestingly, Modan also suggested that some individuals who reported illness after April 3, by which time epidemiologists believed the genuine outbreak had subsided, might have been feigning their symptoms. Hefez's comprehensive 1985 study, "The Role of the Press and the Medical Community in the epidemic of 'Mysterious Gas Poisoning' in the Jordan West Bank," highlighted how Israeli newspaper reports of poisoning at the onset of the epidemic, such as a front-page article in Ha'aretz on March 28, 1983, which claimed traces of nerve gas were found and quoted "army sources" suspecting Palestinian militants of poisoning their own people, dramatically intensified the crisis. These reports were quickly followed by Palestinian leaders accusing Israel of poisoning their population to facilitate their removal from the West Bank.

A Look Back: Historical Parallels of Mass Hysteria

The 1983 West Bank fainting epidemic, while unique in its geopolitical context, is far from an isolated incident in the annals of history. Epidemic hysteria, or mass psychogenic illness, has recurred across cultures and centuries, often manifesting during periods of societal stress or cultural upheaval. Notable historical cases include the infamous Salem witch trials of 1692-1693, where accusations of witchcraft led to widespread panic and executions. More recently, the Tanganyika laughter epidemic of 1962 saw a wave of uncontrollable laughter sweep through a boarding school, while an outbreak of psychogenic illness among Afghan school girls between 2008 and 2012, amidst fears of Taliban poisoning, demonstrates the enduring susceptibility of communities to such profound collective psychological experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 1983 West Bank Fainting Epidemic

What was the 1983 West Bank fainting epidemic?
It was a widespread outbreak of fainting and dizziness that affected nearly a thousand people, primarily teenage Palestinian girls and some Israeli soldiers, across the Israeli-occupied West Bank in late March and early April 1983.
What caused the fainting epidemic?
Researchers and medical investigators largely concluded that the epidemic was a case of mass hysteria or mass psychogenic illness (MPI), where psychological factors, stress, and suggestion led to physical symptoms without a clear organic cause. While a minor environmental irritant might have been present early on, the vast majority of cases were deemed psychosomatic.
How many people were affected and hospitalized?
Approximately 943 individuals were hospitalized due to the symptoms of fainting and dizziness during the outbreak.
Were there political accusations related to the epidemic?
Yes, the incident quickly became highly politicized. Palestinian leaders accused Israeli officials of using "chemical warfare" to displace Arabs, while Israeli officials accused radical Palestinian factions of using gas to incite unrest. Both sides used the event to fuel existing tensions and narratives.
What is mass hysteria (mass psychogenic illness)?
Mass hysteria, also known as mass psychogenic illness (MPI), is a phenomenon in which a group of people experiences similar physical symptoms without an identifiable organic cause. It is often triggered by psychological stress, fear, or social contagion, particularly in high-tension environments.
Are there other historical examples of similar events?
Yes, epidemic hysteria has a long history. Notable examples include the Salem witch trials (17th century), the Tanganyika laughter epidemic (1962), and an outbreak of psychogenic illness among Afghan school girls (2008–2012) amidst fears of poisoning.