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Transcript/ScriptISR PAL SETTLER ATTACKS
HEADLINE: Jewish Settler Violence Increasing in West Bank
TEASER: Peace activists call for Israeli army to crack down
PUBLISHED AT: 2/8/2022: AT 8:15AM
BYLINE: Linda Gradstein
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Burin, West Bank
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ricki Rosen, Rabbis for Human Rights,
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS SR
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, AFP, AP, REUTERS, COURTESY
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:24
VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATES: On Web page, please post camera credit for Ricki Rosen))
((INTRO))
[[Palestinian farmers and Israeli peace activists say there has been an increase in attacks by young extremist Jewish settlers in the West Bank in recent months. In the Palestinian village of Burin, hundreds of peace activists helped plant olive trees two weeks after settlers attacked and wounded seven people. The activists accuse the Israeli government and security forces of doing little to stop violence by settlers. Linda Gradstein reports from Burin in the northern West Bank.]]
((NARRATOR))
Hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian peace activists planted olive trees in the West Bank hills between the Palestinian village of Burin and several Israeli settlements. They protested what they say is the rising wave of violent attacks by extremist Jewish settlers.
((RADIO VERSION, ACT IN ARABIC EST & FADE: Nasser Abed Raba, a Palestinian farmer, says he came to show support for his friends in the village of Burin who were attacked by residents of Yitzhar, the nearby Jewish settlement. He says the olive tree he is planting shows the Palestinians’ connection to the land. It is a blessed tree, he says, that is mentioned in the Qur’an, the Torah and the Gospels.))
((Nasser Abed Raba, Palestinian Farmer (Male, in Arabic NEEDS VOICEOVER), VOA))
“We came here to support our friends in the village of Burin who were attacked by the settlers. The olive tree shows our connection to the land. It is a blessed tree and is mentioned in the Qur’an, the Torah and the Gospels."
((Mandatory cg: Rabbis for Human Rights))
((NARRATOR))
Two weeks ago, about a dozen settler extremists attacked Palestinian farmers and their Israeli supporters here, wounding at least seven and torching a car. This time, rights groups coordinated with the Israeli army to maintain a separation between the settlers and the peace activists.
((RADIO VERSION: Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann is part of Rabbis for Human Rights, an Israeli organization whose aim is to promote economic social justice.))
((Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann, Rabbis for Human Rights ( Male (in English), VOA))
“We as a group think that what these people are doing is called desecration of God’s name, “Hilul Hashem.” They claim to be representing religion, and I think they’re misrepresenting religion. The basic point for us is that Judaism is a religion that sees all human beings as created in God’s image and all human beings are worthy of respect and protection under the law.”
((NARRATOR))
The UN says there were almost 500 attacks by extremist settlers against Palestinians in 2021 and only a handful of indictments filed.
Settler activists say only a few settler extremists are responsible for the attacks and that Palestinian attacks against settlers and soldiers in the West Bank have increased.
((RADIO VERSION: Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann wants to see an end to the hateful acts.))
((Yisrael Medad, West Bank Settlement Activist, Male (in English), VOA))
((Mandatory cg: Zoom))
“I was outraged and actually very hurt personally by the violence that was displayed between two groups of Jews despite the circumstances of the event. I’m also very
appalled that the violence was a reaction to a group of Jews and Arabs simply coming to till land.”
((NARRATOR))
Leftist members of the Israeli Parliament have condemned the settler attacks and demanded the government do more to stop the extremist violence.
((RADIO VERSION, ACT IN HEBREW EST & FADE: Yair Golan, Israeli Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry, said there are elements – who he says he cannot describe other than as extremist nationalist and messianic elements – who are going out and committing actions of the type that Jewish people themselves have suffered throughout history.))
((Yair Golan, Israeli Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry (Male in Hebrew AP))
"There are elements, and I can't describe them other than extremist nationalist messianic elements, who go out on operations that we as the Jewish people suffered from throughout history.”
((RADIO VERSION: Ahmed Tibi, an Arab Israeli politician who serves as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, also joined the protest.))
((Ahmed Tibi, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset (Male, in English, VOA))
“They feel they can attack with no punishment. They are proud they are attacking, we heard them. That’s why there (are) more and more attacks and violence by the settlers and it can cause a huge reaction by Palestinians.”
((NARRATOR))
Peace activists say is the government and army don’t do more to stop the stop the extremist settlers, the cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians will only get worse.
Linda Gradstein, for VOA News, Burin in the West Bank
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 8, 2022 18:13 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
