Introduction to the Documentary
The documentary "The Settlers" sheds light on the Israeli settlement movement and its impact on the Palestinian people. The film’s director, Luis Thero, visits the occupied West Bank to meet with Jewish settlers and understand their perspective. In the documentary, a man speaks in an American tone, claiming that Arabs have no connection to the land of Palestine and that a Palestinian state would be an extremist state in the heart of Israel.
The Escalation of Tensions
With the escalation of tensions and the encouragement of the coalition of the right prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the settlers, the BBC’s film focuses on members of the extremist Zionist movement and their efforts to improve their presence and position in the West Bank. The film shows the tense political situation in the West Bank, where settlers and Palestinians live in close proximity, with dozens of security barriers and restricted freedom of movement for Palestinians.
The High Number of Settlers
The number of settlers has increased to over 700,000, almost ten percent of the total population of Israel. The violence against Palestinians and their displacement by settlers has escalated year after year, reaching an unprecedented level. Around three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, and these controversial settlements have been deemed illegal by the United Nations for several decades.
Settlements in the West Bank
The settlements are population communities established by Israel in the six-day war in 1967, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. Settlements are scattered throughout Palestinian areas and are guarded by Israeli armed forces. Most Palestinians cannot reach them unless they are workers with Israeli companies in these settlements.
Settlers in Front of the Camera
The film broadcasts dialogues with Daniela Weiss, a prominent figure in the Israeli settlement movement, who expresses a fanatical position towards Palestinians. When the director indicates that her reputation is built on displacing Palestinians from the West Bank, she laughs and proudly announces her plans for the resettlement of Gaza by Jews.
A Way Out of Weapons
The director gently tries to convince his characters that their view of the world is not the only one. He leaves long silences, allowing the viewer to show contempt and make their true feelings known. The film material shows that an Israeli soldier refused to allow a Palestinian citizen to cross with the director, solely because of his Palestinian nationality.
Film Praises
British media has praised the work, with the "Independent" newspaper describing it as a "masterpiece" and the technical editor in the "Guardian" writing that the director did something he had never done before. The Financial Times noted that the documentary "is good at drawing attention to the differences that are tightened outside the news circle dominated by conflicts in Gaza."
Conclusion
The documentary "The Settlers" provides a unique perspective on the Israeli settlement movement and its impact on the Palestinian people. Through interviews with settlers and Palestinians, the film sheds light on the complex and tense political situation in the West Bank. The documentary has received praise from British media, with many describing it as a "masterpiece" and a thought-provoking look at a difficult subject.
