BBC's tense encounter with sanctioned Israeli settler while filming in West Bank
The tense encounter between the BBC team and Israeli settler Moshe Sharvit highlights ongoing conflicts in the West Bank, where Sharvit, sanctioned by Britain and the EU, is accused of using violence to displace Palestinian communities. Gil Alexander, a peace activist, attempts to protect Palestinian shepherds from such intimidation, advocating for coexistence within pre-1967 Israeli borders. Sharvit, supported by far-right government ministers, claims divine right to the land and dismisses international sanctions as antisemitism, while tensions with Palestinians escalate following a recent Hamas attack. Both men have a history of confrontation, with restraining orders against each other, stemming from incidents involving weapons and accusations of violence. Despite the illegality of Sharvit's settlement, human rights groups report that Israeli authorities rarely intervene in settler violence against Palestinians, underscoring the complex and deeply entrenched nature of the conflict.
Context:
The tense encounter between the BBC team and Israeli settler Moshe Sharvit highlights ongoing conflicts in the West Bank, where Sharvit, sanctioned by Britain and the EU, is accused of using violence to displace Palestinian communities. Gil Alexander, a peace activist, attempts to protect Palestinian shepherds from such intimidation, advocating for coexistence within pre-1967 Israeli borders. Sharvit, supported by far-right government ministers, claims divine right to the land and dismisses international sanctions as antisemitism, while tensions with Palestinians escalate following a recent Hamas attack. Both men have a history of confrontation, with restraining orders against each other, stemming from incidents involving weapons and accusations of violence. Despite the illegality of Sharvit's settlement, human rights groups report that Israeli authorities rarely intervene in settler violence against Palestinians, underscoring the complex and deeply entrenched nature of the conflict.
Dive Deeper:
Moshe Sharvit, an Israeli settler sanctioned by Britain and the EU, is accused of using violence against Palestinians to displace them from their homes in the West Bank, including an incident where he allegedly threatened a Palestinian grandmother at gunpoint.
Gil Alexander, a 72-year-old peace activist, works to protect Palestinian shepherds and advocates for peaceful coexistence within Israel's pre-1967 borders, opposing the expansion of illegal settlements that aim to remove Palestinians from the region.
Supported by far-right Israeli ministers, Sharvit believes in a divine right to the land, including the West Bank, and views international sanctions as a form of antisemitism, while he continues to promote his presence in the region despite legal restrictions.
The conflict between Sharvit and Alexander is marked by personal animosity, with each obtaining restraining orders against the other following confrontations involving claims of self-defense and weapon possession.
Human rights organizations report a sharp increase in settler attacks against Palestinians, with Israeli authorities often failing to intervene, further complicating the efforts for peace and coexistence in the region.
Sharvit's settlement remains illegal under Israeli law but has not been dismantled, reflecting the Israeli government's reliance on far-right settlers to maintain political power, and the broader geopolitical tensions involving settlement expansion and Palestinian displacement.
The situation is exacerbated by recent violence, including a Hamas attack on Israel, leading to increased settler aggression and highlighting the ongoing struggle for control and security within the occupied territories.