Jewish activists clash with extremist settlers to protect West Bank families

Ziva Sharp travelled from Jerusalem to the West Bank on Tuesday to join a small band of religious Israelis who aim to shield Palestinian neighbours from violent settlers. While attempting to clear obstacles around the Faraj family’s home in Jannatah, near Bethlehem, the activists were attacked with stones and pepper spray; five were injured and an AFP journalist was struck in the chin.

The incident shines a light on an increasingly bitter split within Israel’s own religious community. While the extremist Hilltop Youth movement expands illegal outposts and uses intimidation, groups such as Bnei Avraham (Children of Abraham) argue that their Judaism calls for compassion and justice. The clash underscores how the surge in settler violence since the October 7 attacks has drawn even more attention to the moral debate over settlement expansion.

The Jannatah showdown

Activists arrived after settlers erected a prefabricated structure on land owned by the Faraj family, whose patriarch Mohammed Faraj was killed in March during clashes. The volunteers sought to dismantle makeshift barriers and rebuild a protective fence. According to the group, two cars filled with young men in dark hoodies, identified as members of the settler outpost dubbed Kochav Yehuda, rushed in and assaulted the team.

"We are supposed to be part of tzelem elokim (the image of God), and to follow God's ways, and God's ways are pity, compassion and justice," said Ziva Sharp.

After the attack, the activists’ vehicles were vandalised; windows were smashed and tyres punctured. No arrests have been made in connection with the violence.

Religious motivations on opposite sides

Avishai Liss, a 26‑year‑old former resident of a religious Zionist community, explained his involvement: "I feel as a Jewish person, as a Zionist, that what's happening now in the West Bank is not Jewish. And it's definitely not moral." He added that his activism has strained relationships within his own community.

Former ultra‑Orthodox student Dror Nadel echoed a similar sentiment, noting that his upbringing taught him the value of charity but also the danger of weaponising religion. "Religion is a beautiful thing, but it can lead you in the wrong direction," he said.

The broader context includes a settlement population of over 500,000 Israelis living in the occupied territories, a figure that continues to grow under Benjamin Netanyahu's right‑wing government ahead of the October 27 elections. International observers have warned that the rise in settler‑related attacks threatens any prospects for a negotiated peace.

While the activists’ actions have drawn media attention, the underlying dispute over land, legal status of outposts, and the moral framing of the conflict remains unresolved. Whether groups like Bnei Avraham can influence public opinion or policy will depend on how the Israeli judiciary and security forces respond to future incidents.

For now, the Faraj family and their allies remain on high alert, and the cycle of confrontation appears set to continue as settlement activity accelerates.