Religious Jewish Activists Clash with Settlers While Protecting Palestinians in West Bank

A group of Israeli activists, including many religious Jews, were injured during a mission to protect Palestinians from violent settlers in the occupied West Bank. The activists, some of whom are members of the Bnei Avraham movement, traveled to Jannatah near Bethlehem to help the Faraj family. The group attempted to build a protective fence and clear road obstacles after settlers placed a prefabricated home on the family's land. In March, a member of the Faraj family named Mohammed Faraj was killed in clashes with settlers, and his brother Hassan stated that no arrests have been made in connection with the death.

During the incident, settlers attacked the activists and accompanying journalists with stones and pepper spray. One journalist was hit in the chin with a stick, and at least five activists were injured. The activists also reported that their cars were vandalized with smashed windows and punctured tires. The attackers are identified as members of the Hilltop Youth movement, an extremist group that establishes outposts illegal under Israeli law to pressure Palestinians to leave their homes. The specific outpost involved, Kochav Yehuda, has reportedly been dismantled and rebuilt 64 times by Israeli authorities.

Activists such as Ziva Sharp and Avishai Liss stated that their Jewish faith and a commitment to humanism, compassion, and justice motivated their actions. They argue that the violence in the West Bank is not moral or Jewish. This movement differs from the broader secular peace movement because it is led by religious Jews who use faith to confront injustices. These events occur amid a broader increase in settler violence against Palestinians since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, and as the right wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advances more settlement construction.