An admitted fascist, illegal Israeli settler who was born in the West Bank - (Screen shot of “Natural Born Settlers.” op-Doc)

This illegal Israeli settler has traveled resulting in an interesting perspective - (Screen shot of “Natural Born Settlers.” op-Doc)

This illegal Israeli settler is aware of raising his children while understanding human rights - (Screen shot of “Natural Born Settlers.” op-Doc)

Producer Iris Zaki shares her thoughts about changes in Israel - (Screen shot of “Natural Born Settlers.” op-Doc)

Video Beat - WHAT'S BEHIND ISRAELI SETTLERS

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Israeli video producer Iris Zaki's presents a thought-provoking short film "Natural Born Settlers." A self-described liberal from cosmopolitan Tel Aviv, Zaki wanted to get behind the politics of Israel's controversial settlements in the occupied territories - so she moved there, temporarily, setting up an improvised cafe where she could chat with settlers from her own generation

Monday August 14, 2023

THE NEED 2 KNOW

What is largely hidden from the world view is the shameful treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank by illegal Jewish settlers. While searching something else You Tube threw up in our face a video that caught our attention titled "Natural Born Settlers."

The video's theme is what is it like to be born and grow up in an Israeli settlement. It was posted in 2019 and has attracted 1,300,276 views when we recently accessed it.

We viewed it and found it interesting particularly since it was produced by Iris Zaki an Israeli living legally in Tel Aviv. Apparently, her mission was to reveal to viewers that all Israelis are not natural born killers of Arab Sand Niggers as many Israelis refer to Palestinians whose land they stole and continue to steal more.

She wanted the perspective of settlers that were born and grew up in the West Bank. She sought the thoughts of people whose perspectives that she disagreed with. Zaki wanted to get behind the politics of Israel's controversial settlements in the occupied territories - so she temporarily moved to a settlement and set up an improvised cafe where she could chat with settlers from her own generation (30 something).

The most memorable comments were made by a woman that admitted that she didn't care about how Arabs felt. She admitted that she spat on Arabs when she was a teenager and received jail time for it. The settler acknowledged that there was something fascist about her. She noted that the Jews existence was dependent on this country (Israel).

Another natural born settler in the West Bank grew up wondering who the people were that lived right next to her. The lady noted that she had experienced traveling to New York in the USA when she then started to have an understanding of the environment that she grew up in. She then realized that there was a human population in the West Bank that no one (settlers) wanted human contact with.

A man raising a family there was initially concerned about Palestinians that arrived every day at checkpoints to enter the settlement for work building homes.

His initially thought of how degrading the scene was and pictured the Palestinians as slave labor. Over time he said he got used to it and dismissed his initial opinion.

When asked what he though about his children being raised in that environment he noted that he was conscious of the humanity disposition of the situation and would raise his children with that in mind.

One man related to and experience he had as a child. While driving his father stopped to fire a gun into a wall to send a message to observing Palestinians to beware. As an adult the man viewed the experience as his father wanting to send a message and it was okay.

There were several varied points of view by the settlers that Zaki interviewed. This op-Doc video is a MUST VIEW for anyone that is concerned about human rights.

Zaki gave her own opinion about Israel that being it "has become nationalist, religious… even fascist."

The link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eac1l1ozfLc

Below are some unedited comments from those that viewed to video that we found interesting.

VIEWER COMMENTS:

@Abdul-Y 2 years ago

Imagine a foreign family building their home in your backyard, knowing that this is illegal under international law, yet they're protected by the police, and the army even, while you can't say anything and if you did you get arrested.

@guitarninjarick8179 2 years ago

It does seems disturbing the more I learn and watch about these issues. The more it seems like Palestinians are treated like 2nd class citizens and how a lot of Israelies are either indifferent or seem like they are justified in doing anything they feel like in response to any problems with Palestinians.

@misspeecha 2 years ago

Iris Zaki, great documentary - thank you for having the courage to call it what it is. Your narrative throughout and parting thoughts are what struck me the most. The people growing up in these Israeli settlements are looking at it from a position of power and therefore, completely devoid of empathy for the oppressed Palestinians. I noticed how so many of them even referred to them as "arabs" which is contradictory to their Palestinian identity. One person even posed a question of how he can raise children with good morals when they sees "200 arab slaves" everyday. The fact that he could, openly, call it slavery without sugar-coating is truly important. The segregation, the fact that Palestinians are treated as second, nay, third-class citizens in the settlements and all across Israel is a blatant reality that needs to be addressed.

@perryod 3 years ago

Fine piece of work, really well done. And I thank you for it (and thanks to all involved too). Watching it, it also came to my mind that not one Palestinian got an opportunity to speak to camera but, in fairness, this was not that film, a film in which one speaks to people from either side of the divide. It was fascinating to hear from people with whom I would certainly disagree (my views being similar to the views of the film-makers insofar as they seemed to me to be). Anyhow, a really worthwhile and well done piece of work; glad I clicked on it.

@annaismail2156 3 years ago @Op-Docs there are many sides to the reality, do one on "What's it like to grow up as a Palestinian oppressed by the Israeli government and surrounded by Israeli settlers" I'm sure their stories are just as moving and heartbreaking as these Israeli settlers!

@CiaranGallagher1 1 year ago

Many of these settlers are sick and demented people. And many of those expressing love and peace platitudes I feel don't mean it in practice. Kudos to those who are speaking out against these evils and those who are genuinely extending an olive branch to those in the nearby Arab communities.

@yankeemike-so6jm 5 months ago

I am a Huguenot, and being part of that very small minority i have always felt very close to my Jewish friends. But the apartheid system in place in Israel bothers me a lot. Human Rights are at the core of western constitutions. Great sadness overcomes me and I wonder if I'll ever go back to Israel.