This article discusses the increasing influence of extremist settlers in Israeli politics, particularly under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The article highlights two ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who are backing Netanyahu’s government.
**Key Points:**
1. **Extremist Settlers:** The article describes the radical settler royalty, married to Noam Federman’s daughter, an extremist who is considered a terrorist by Israel, the US, and the European Union.
2. **Killing of Palestinian Journalist:** Yinon Levi shot and killed Odeh Hathaleen, a Palestinian journalist and activist, during a disturbance at Umm al-Khair village in the West Bank.
3. **Influence on Politics:** The two ministers, Ben Gvir and Smotrich, have gained influence due to their support for Netanyahu and have been backed by a firm religious belief.
4. **Comparison with Secular Politicians:** The article compares these extremist settlers with secular politicians like Yigal Allon and Ariel Sharon, who also believed in the power of religion to ensure security but were more pragmatic.
5. **Shaul’s Views:** Shaul, an Israeli opponent of the occupation, believes that the line between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and settlers has blurred, with settlers now taking on a military role.
6. **Two-State Solution:** Shaul argues that there are only two options left for Israel: displacement, abuses, killings, and mass population transfer or a two-state solution where Palestine lives alongside Israel with both peoples having rights and dignity.
**Quotes:**
* “The settlers have become the military.”
* “Now, the settlers are in the military. The soldier or officer in uniform who has a gun is now responsible for that settler who was on a hilltop near a Palestinian herding village for the last two, three, or four years beating them up and hurling stones to try to get him out.”
* “I believe that while we see an extermination war in Gaza…we see a massive campaign of the state and settlers…to basically ethnically clean as much land of West Bank from Palestinians.”
**Conclusion:**
The article presents a grim picture of Israel’s politics, where extremist settlers are increasingly influential and pushing for policies that are detrimental to Palestinian rights. Shaul’s views highlight the growing concern among Israelis about the occupation and the need for a two-state solution to ensure peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
