Israel’s Channel Two ran a news segment on Peace Now advocates detailing settlement development in Israel.
The most interesting point in the segment comes when a settler and an activist argue over who is the true friend of Israel. The activist claims that by informing Israelis about the settlements, they are serving the country. The settler claims that the activists are slandering their homeland and causing damage.
As a Jew living in Israel who does not blindly believe that Israel can do no wrong, I have heard the settler’s argument directed at me on more than one occasion. Many Israelis contend that Jews should not publicly condemn Israel or point-out the country’s faults because it would merely provide fodder to anti-semites or anti-Israel advocates. These critics contend that enough people throughout the globe hate Israel and Jews should work constantly to defend the country. Conversely, I believe that every individual should help their friends, family, and country strive for a better future. Part of that process includes pointing out unpleasant truths that require change.
Alongside the exchange between the settler and the activist, another settler (clearly a fanatic) uses violence to attempt to stifle the reporters’ efforts.
