American Prestige Special - Escalating Settler Violence in the West Bank w/ Jasper Nathaniel
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Nov 11, 2025 Jasper Nathaniel, an independent reporter and Substack writer of Infinite Jazz, shares his harrowing experiences reporting on settler violence in the West Bank. He details the escalating attacks during the olive harvest, framing it as a flashpoint for violence. Nathaniel discusses the troubling dynamics in Turmus Aya and the troubling shift in Israeli policy that empowers these aggressors. He recounts a brutal ambush he witnessed firsthand and highlights the lack of accountability for perpetrators. Nathaniel advocates for international presence to protect Palestinian communities.
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Olive Fields As A Strategic Buffer
- Turmus Aya is a wealthy, largely Palestinian-American town with olive fields acting as a buffer to nearby settlements.
- Settlers are moving into those fields to pressure residents and seize property, threatening the village itself.
State-Backed Expansion Through Bureaucracy
- Israeli far-right ministers have reshaped West Bank governance to favor settlers and legalize outposts.
- Bureaucratic changes removed barriers, making land seizure easier and more systematic.
Political Shift Intensified Harvest Violence
- Violence rose sharply after the 2023 government shift and accelerated after October 7th.
- Administrative laxity and security rhetoric combined to legitimize settler aggression during the olive harvest.
