Dust was rising on the track. It hung in the hot midday air as the white jeep came towards us. The driver was less than a minute away. "I think it's Moshe Sharvit," said Gil Alexander, 72, a devout religious Jew who tries to protect Palestinian shepherds from intimidation by Jewish settlers. Over the last yearwe've been documenting his work with shepherdsin the northern Jordan Valley, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The man approaching us was placed under sanctions by Britain and the EU last year after they said he had used "physical aggression, threatened families at gunpoint, and destroyed property as part of a targeted and calculated effort to displace Palestinian communities". In a casereported by our colleagues at BBC Eye Investigateslast year, a Palestinian grandmother alleged that Moshe Sharvit had forced her to leave her family home in October 2023. Ayesha Shtayyeh also said he pointed a gun at her head and threatened to kill her. "We've been here for 50 years…What have I ever done to him?" she asked when BBC Eye interviewed her. She said her family's troubles began after Moshe Sharvit established a so-called 'outpost'- a settlement that is illegal under both Israeli and international law - chasing away the family's sheep, damaging property and constantly threatening them. The alleged incident with the gun was the final straw. Moshe Sharvit did not respond to BBC Eye's requests for a response to Ayesha's account. Back on the mountainside, the man accused of this violence stopped his car and approached us. Nodding towards Gil Alexander he asked us: "Do you know he's a very dangerous guy?" When our translator explained to Moshe Sharvit we were from the BBC he said: "Ah the BBC… great lovers of Israel…" He went on to call us bad and dangerous people. Addressing our translator he said: "So, do you understand that they're the people who are most dangerous to the State of Israel?" Then he phoned the police, asking them to come to the scene. When he wasn't calling the police he filmed us filming him. Moshe Sharvit and Gil Alexander represent starkly different visions of Israel's future. Moshe Sharvit believes all of the West Bank - which settlers and the Israeli government call Judea and Samaria - were given by God to the Jews. In this he is supported by senior ministers in the government, including the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, and the Minister of Public Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Both men are settlers and leaders of far-right ultranationalist parties. Smotrich has said Gaza will be "totally destroyed" and that its people will be "totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places". The 'other places' he envisages are foreign countries. Ben-Gvir, who is responsible for the police, has convictions for inciting racism and supporting a terrorist organisation. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, relies on the support of the far-right settler movement to keep his government in power. He criticised the sanctions imposed on Moshe Sharvit and other settlers, saying his government viewed the move "with great severity". US sanctions against Moshe Sharvit were dropped when President Donald Trump came to power. The UN's top court ruled last year that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories is against international law and that all settlement activity is illegal. Israel rejects this and argues that settlements are necessary for security, citing lethal attacks by Palestinian gunmen on settlers, such as the killing of three people last January in the West Bank. Settlement expansion is anathema to Gil Alexander. He considers himself a Zionist, but within the existing borders of Israel. These are the frontiers that existed before it seized the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war, after neighbouring Arab countries launched a surprise attack. He is part of a network called the Jordan Valley Activists – Moshe Sharvit calls them "anarchists" - offering solidarity, and working for peaceful co-existence with the Palestinians. "What they [the settlers] want to see happen," Gil Alexander told us, "[is] that it will be an area completely free of Arabs. It isn't Moshe. It's all the people above him who sent him here. Meaning from the top". Moshe Sharvit's desire to have the Jordan Valley empty of Palestinians is shared by the leader of the regional council, a government-supported body, David Elhayani, who has visited the sanctioned settler. In his air conditioned office about 15km (9 miles) from Moshe Sharvit's settler outpost he told us "the notion of settler violence is an invention of the anarchist, extreme left meant to harm the settlement image". As for the future of the Palestinians, he was emphatic. They should go to neighbouring Jordan. "This country needs to be free of Arabs. It's the only way. It's a global interest. Why global? Because the minute there won't be Arabs here it will be a Jewish nation for the Jews who won't have to hurt each other, there won't be conflict, there won't be anything." Gil Alexander and Moshe Sharvit have a history of antagonism. During an altercation on a Palestinian farmer's land in January 2023, Moshe Sharvit says Gil Alexander tried to seize his firearm from its holster. While speaking to our translator he produced a video of the incident on his phone. "You can see Gil Alexander. Same hat and glasses. That's me. Here you see he grabs my gun." Gil Alexander says he was acting in self-defence after Moshe Sharvit had grabbed his walking stick, and the phone of his friend and violently pushing it. He says he feared Moshe Sharvit was going to use the weapon. As a result, Moshe Sharvit got a restraining order which forbids Gil Alexander from being within 2.5km (1.5 miles) of his farm. The police have charged Gil Alexander with illegal possession of a weapon (the one he allegedly tried to take from Moshe Sharvit) and assault. The issue will be considered by the Israeli courts. Moshe Sharvit himself is the subject of a restraining order forbidding him to approach a Palestinian family living near his outpost for six months, since March this year. During our encounter the settler claimed that Gil Alexander had breached his restraining order by taking us to the high ground overlooking the valley. The peace activist told us later that he had mistakenly strayed just over half a kilometre inside the area of the order. Although Moshe Sharvit's settlement is illegal, even under Israeli law, it has not been removed. Human rights organisations and numerous eyewitnesses testify that the Israeli army and police frequently stand by while settlers attack Palestinian villages. The violence has escalated sharply since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 kidnapped, and which triggered the Gaza war. According to a report issued by the UN office for Humanitarian Affairs there were 1,804 attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the period January 2024 to March 2025. The Israeli human rights group, Yesh Din (There is Law), reported that only 3% of complaints made against settlers resulted in a conviction. In six days last month - from 22 to 28 April - the UN recorded 14 incidents involving settlers that left 36 Palestinians injured. In the tense atmosphere on the mountainside, and wanting to avoid any escalation, we decided to leave. As we walked away, Moshe Sharvit went to his jeep and drove ahead of us, stopping where the track turned down the mountain. Our way out was blocked. There was no-one we could appeal to apart from the man preventing us from leaving. Again, he phoned the police asking them to come. Gil Alexander phoned the police and his lawyer. Our team was worried that more settlers would come. Then something surprising happened. I suggested to Moshe Sharvit that he should agree to be interviewed. After a brief pause, he said: "Bring the camera." What followed was less an interview, than a series of declarations. He was doing the work of God, he said. Why did local Bedouin shepherds say they were very afraid of him? I asked. "No, that is a lie. They're telling stories so the world will think we're crazy. It's not true. It's all lies that are built on lies of dozens of years of lying…" he said. "The Arabs, since the formation of the country and before - all the past 77 years they've been preoccupied with harming the people of Israel, harming the land of Israel and causing the nation of Israel to be miserable and pitiful. But they don't understand that the harder they try, the Lion will wake from his sleep and within one day we'll end this story." He repeated the analogy of the Lion later in the interview saying, in what sounded like ominous words, that the Palestinians were "pushing the lion so hard into the corner that there will be no choice left but to finish this story". "7 October was small. One day it'll be big." As for peaceful co-existence such as Gil Alexander supports, he said there was "no such thing as peace with enemies who try to destroy you". Moshe Sharvit's brother Harel was killed fighting in Gaza in December 2023. His world is the pastureland, the stony hills of the Jordan Valley, his sheep and cattle, the bed and breakfast he has opened. He produced a glossy video, replete with a backing track of American country music, to promote his venture. He spoke with contempt for the British sanctions against him. They were a new kind of antisemitism, he claimed. "The minute someone tries to hurt me I get stronger. My spirit…I receive energies, my spirit continues on its mission, I continue advancing forward and planting roots deep into the land of Israel. I'm not bothered by Britain or America or anyone." Then he drove away. We were free to move on. Later as we were having lunch in a café about 15km (nine miles) away, a policeman appeared, looking for Gil Alexander. He went with the police officer for questioning. After about an hour he returned, telling us he had been ordered not to enter the Jordan Valley for two weeks. He plans to lodge his own complaint against Moshe Sharvit over the incident. We went to Gil Alexander's home in a kibbutz inside Israel that overlooks the Valley. Gunmen from the Palestinian city of Jenin fired at the kibbutz two years ago. Gil Alexander is not a pacifist. If he is attacked by Hamas or any other group, he will defend himself. He said: "A son of our friends, two months ago he was killed here by a terrorist. He was a soldier in the reserves, 46 years old with six children. He volunteered for the reserves to protect me." "If the army hadn't been there, they would have come here. He was killed while defending me. And today he is buried next to my two sons." But Gil Alexander seemed weary as we sat drinking tea amid the bright red flowers of his well-tended garden, and the fluttering yellow flags that symbolise Israel's hostages held in Gaza. He spoke of a beloved nephew killed fighting in Lebanon in an earlier war. Did he not, I wondered, at the age of 72, think about retiring from the struggle and enjoying his garden? He laughed. There was no chance of that. After two of his sons took their own lives – one was in the army, the other was about to enter the military – he had found a purpose in working for what he calls the "humanitarian" ideals of Judaism. "After the tragedies of my sons, if I don't find meaning in life, I'll go crazy… And the things I do, are things I believe in. And these are things I also got from my father who was in the French underground during World War Two and fought for French liberation but was against any type of occupation and said, 'Occupation is Occupation.'" Two days after our encounter with Moshe Sharvit, a lone woman peace activist filmed him banging on the window of her car and rocking the vehicle. The woman is clearly frightened by the intimidation. Moshe Sharvit acts as if he has nothing to fear. With additional reporting by Oren Rosenfeld and Nik Millard.
BBC team's tense encounter with sanctioned Israeli settler while filming in West Bank
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"BBC Team Encounters Sanctioned Israeli Settler Amid Tensions in West Bank"
Bbc News
7.0
TruthLens AI Summary
The BBC team encountered Moshe Sharvit, an Israeli settler sanctioned by both Britain and the EU for alleged violent actions against Palestinian communities, while documenting the work of Gil Alexander, a Jewish activist advocating for Palestinian shepherds in the northern Jordan Valley. Sharvit, accused of using aggression to displace Palestinians, approached the crew with hostility, labeling them as dangerous and expressing disdain for their reporting. His confrontational stance highlighted the deep divisions in perspectives regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly as he embodies the far-right nationalist ideology supported by segments of the Israeli government. This ideological clash is further complicated by the backdrop of ongoing tensions and violence in the region, which have escalated since the recent Hamas attacks on Israel.
As the BBC team navigated the charged atmosphere, they documented not only the confrontation with Sharvit but also the broader implications of his actions and beliefs. The team learned about the stark opposition between Sharvit, who seeks to establish a Jewish-only state in the West Bank, and Alexander, who advocates for peaceful coexistence within the pre-1967 borders of Israel. The encounter culminated in Sharvit's provocative statements about the inevitability of conflict with Palestinians, reflecting a mentality that dismisses the possibility of peace. Despite the tension, the crew managed to leave the area unharmed, highlighting the precarious nature of life for both settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank, where violence and intimidation are pervasive and deeply entrenched in the socio-political landscape. Alexander's commitment to humanitarian ideals stands in stark contrast to Sharvit's aggressive nationalism, underscoring the complex and often dangerous realities faced by those living in this contested territory.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article presents a tense interaction between a BBC team and an Israeli settler named Moshe Sharvit, who is under sanctions for alleged violent actions against Palestinian communities. The narrative focuses on the experiences of Gil Alexander, a Jewish man working to protect Palestinian shepherds from settlers. This encounter sheds light on the complexities of Israeli-Palestinian relations and the challenges faced by those advocating for Palestinian rights.
Intent Behind Publication
The piece aims to highlight the ongoing conflict between Israeli settlers and Palestinians by documenting a specific encounter that illustrates the broader tensions in the region. By presenting the story of Moshe Sharvit, who has been accused of threatening Palestinians, the article seeks to raise awareness about the human rights issues affecting these communities. It serves to inform the public about the consequences of settlement expansion and the violence associated with it, ultimately promoting a narrative of accountability for actions against vulnerable populations.
Perception Shaping
This article may aim to evoke sympathy towards the Palestinian plight while portraying settlers like Sharvit as aggressors. The use of strong language, such as "dangerous" and "violent," contributes to a perception that Israeli settlers pose a significant threat to Palestinian lives and livelihoods. The emphasis on personal accounts of intimidation further reinforces this image, creating an emotional response from readers.
Potential Omissions
While the article provides detailed accounts of the settlers' actions, it may overlook broader historical and political contexts, such as the reasons behind settlement expansion or the complexities of Israeli security concerns. By focusing on individual incidents, there is a possibility that readers may not fully grasp the larger geopolitical dynamics at play.
Manipulative Elements
The article's manipulation factor could be considered moderate, primarily due to its language and framing. Words like "dangerous" and the focus on threats might lead readers to adopt a biased view of the situation. However, the reliance on eyewitness accounts provides a level of authenticity to the claims made, balancing the potential for manipulation.
Reality Check
The credibility of this news piece largely hinges on the accuracy of the claims made against Moshe Sharvit and the BBC's adherence to journalistic standards. The inclusion of direct quotes from affected individuals adds weight to the narrative, lending it a degree of reliability. However, the lack of a response from Sharvit leaves a gap that could affect the overall trustworthiness of the reporting.
Public Impact
This article could influence public opinion, particularly among those sympathetic to Palestinian rights, by highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by these communities. It may also spark discussions about the legality of settlements and the responsibilities of international actors in addressing human rights violations.
Community Support
The article is likely to resonate more with communities advocating for Palestinian rights, human rights activists, and those critical of Israeli policies. By focusing on the plight of Palestinians and the actions of settlers, it aims to engage readers who are concerned about social justice and humanitarian issues.
Market Implications
While the article itself may not directly impact stock markets, it could influence investor sentiment regarding companies operating in Israel or those involved in the region's economic activities. Public perception of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can have broader implications for trade and investment in the region.
Geopolitical Relevance
On a global scale, this article touches on ongoing debates about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which remains a significant issue in international relations. The framing of the settlers as aggressors could affect diplomatic discussions and public policy decisions related to Israel.
AI Influence
It is unlikely that AI was used in writing this article. The style and depth of the narrative suggest human oversight, particularly in the selection of quotes and the emotional tone. Any potential AI assistance could have been minimal, focusing on data organization rather than content generation.
Conclusion
Given the detailed accounts and the emphasis on personal experiences, this article can be considered relatively trustworthy. However, the potential for bias in language and selective storytelling means readers should approach it with an understanding of its context and the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.