We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: WEST BANK SETTLER VIOLENCE
HEADLINE: Palestinians Say West Bank Settler Attacks on Rise Since October 7
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: Wednesday, 02/14/2024 at 07:30 EST
BYLINE: Linda Gradstein
DATELINE: South Hebron Hills, West Bank
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ricki Rosen
PRODUCER: Jason Godman
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, sb, dj (bal)
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, AFP, Reuters, B’Tselem
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X__ RADIO _X__
TRT: 2:57
VID APPROVED BY: pcd
TYPE: TV/R
EDITOR NOTES: WEB DESK, PLEASE POST CAMERA CREDIT FOR RICKI ROSEN))
((INTRO))
[[West Bank Palestinians say that since the October 7 Hamas attack, Israeli settlers have significantly increased acts of violence against them, with the aim of forcing the Palestinians to abandon their homes. A settler council, however, denies these allegations, saying incidents have decreased. For VOA, Linda Gradstein reports from the South Hebron Hills of the West Bank.]]
((Mandatory cg: B’Tselem))
((NARRATOR))
Violent confrontations between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank have intensified over the past year under Israel’s right-wing government. But the incidents have doubled since the October 7 Hamas attack and ensuing war, according to OCHA, the U.N.'s humanitarian organization. Palestinian farmers and shepherds say many settlers received guns from the government and are acting as vigilantes.
[[Radio Cue: Palestinian farmer Firad al-Jabour says the situation has gotten worse since the war began. He says settlers have stopped him from reaching his olive trees, and that the crop has rotted on the trees.]]
((Farid al-Jabour, Palestinian Farmer (Male, in Arabic)))
“The situation is terrible. It was bad before, and it has gotten worse. The whole war, we haven’t been able to get to our fields. The olives are still on the trees. If we try to go to the trees, the settlers shoot at us. The whole crop is ruined.”
((NARRATOR))
This is Area C, the 60 percent of the West Bank under complete Israeli control. It's where all the Jewish settlements are built. These settlements are illegal according to international law. Israeli government hardliners have long sought to annex this area and pressure the Palestinians to move to areas under Palestinian control. Since October 7, Palestinians have evacuated at least 16 communities in Area C, according to Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, saying that they were forced out because of settlers attacking their families and property.
[[Radio Cue: Raked al-Te left his village of Khirbet Zanuta because he worried the settlers would harm his family. He says that there have always been problems with Jewish settlers, but since the war, the settlers want to kill the Palestinians.]]
((Raked al-Te, Fled West Bank Village (Male, in Arabic))
"We used to have problems with them (the settlers), but after the war in Gaza, they even wanted to kill all of us."
((NARRATOR))
Jewish settler representatives contend that while Palestinian attacks against Israelis in 2023 were the highest in 20 years, settler attacks against Palestinians decreased.
[[Radio cue: Josh Hasten is the international spokesperson for the West Bank settlers council.]]
((Josh Hasten, Spokesperson for West Bank Settlers (male, English))) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom))
“The IDF, [Israel Defense Forces] citing police reports, said that after the October 7 attack, violence carried out by Jews in Judea and Samaria [West Bank] actually dropped by around 50% in the month of October and then another 50% in the month of November. So anyone who thinks that in response to October 7, Jews are becoming more vigilante or carrying out attacks, statistics do not back that at all."
((NARRATOR))
This claim is refuted by the Israeli and international volunteers who support and protect the South Hebron Hills Palestinians from settler harassment.
[[Radio Cue: Bill Slott is an Israeli human rights volunteer]]
((Bill Slott, Israeli Human Rights Volunteer (Male, in English))
“Let’s start with October 7, which we all remember somewhat traumatically. A system of really violent attacks on Area C as a sort of revenge attack. But also as a way of saying, ‘We’ve got our opportunity. Now we can get rid of them.’ Almost every village in Area C had at least one, if not several, violent attacks. Many of them on October 7 itself.”
((Mandatory cg: B’Tselem))
((NARRATOR))
The U.S. and U.K. governments have also expressed concerns about reports of an increase in settler attacks against Palestinians. They have even taken the unprecedented step of imposing sanctions against at least four Jewish settlers accused of violence.
((Linda Gradstein, VOA News, South Hebron Hills))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)South Hebron Hills, West Bank
BylineLinda Gradstein
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
