On a hillside overlooking the Palestinian village of al-Mughayyir, a gathering of Israelis and Jewish visitors from abroad embarked on a tour that illuminated the ongoing settlement expansion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Led by Netanel, an Israeli settler-soldier clad in olive fatigues and armed with a rifle, the tour aimed to showcase the settlers’ impact on the region. “It started with this hilltop,” he proclaimed, referring to the encroaching settlement that has increasingly surrounded al-Mughayyir. “We ended up putting the area in Jewish hands. There are no Arabs here.”
This tour was not merely a casual excursion; it was a recruitment effort aimed at English-speaking Jews, many of whom expressed interest in relocating to the settlements. Netanel articulated a fervent mission to support fellow settlers and shepherds in reclaiming what he referred to as “Judea and Samaria,” the biblical designation used by settlers and the Israeli government for the West Bank. This narrative of reclamation is steeped in historical and religious significance for many Israelis, yet it starkly contrasts with the realities faced by the Palestinian residents.
The settlement movement has gained momentum, particularly since the events of October 7, 2023, which saw a notable increase in military involvement and support for settlers. The Israeli government has issued thousands of rifles to civilian security squads, often distributed personally by far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. This state-backed initiative has been described by watchdog groups as an unprecedented land grab, executed through a peculiar amalgamation of government-supplied arms and pastoral practices involving herds of sheep and goats.
Marko Milanovic, a professor of public international law at the University of Reading, emphasized the legal implications of this militarization, stating that reservist settler-soldiers like those in the Hagmar battalions should be regarded as equivalent to IDF soldiers. This blurring of lines between civilian settlers and military personnel raises critical questions about accountability and the rule of law in the region.
The Metzudat David outpost, established in 2025, stands as a stark example of the expansionist policies that have proliferated in the West Bank. Despite being deemed illegal under Israeli law, it is one of ten outposts encircling al-Mughayyir, which has seen its grazing and farmland diminish drastically. According to a recent report by Israeli watchdog groups Peace Now and Kerem Navot, settlers have seized over 38,000 dunams (nearly 9,400 acres) of al-Mughayyir’s land, with approximately 750,000 dunams taken since the current Israeli government assumed power in late 2022.
The villagers of al-Mughayyir now have practical access to only a fraction of their land, with estimates suggesting they can utilize merely 1,200 to 1,500 dunams. The closure of the village’s eastern gate by the Israeli military has further exacerbated their isolation, forcing residents to navigate longer routes that are fraught with danger. Dror Etkes, head of the settlement watchdog Kerem Navot, noted that the establishment of the Metzudat David outpost effectively severed the village’s access to vital agricultural land, intensifying the community’s sense of vulnerability.
The psychological toll on the residents is palpable. A growing sense of foreboding permeates the village, particularly following the tragic death of 17-year-old Fadi Naasan, who succumbed to injuries sustained during a raid earlier that month. The violence has escalated, with al-Mughayyir recording over 70 incidents of settler violence in 2025 alone, a trend that appears set to continue into 2026.
During the tour, participants expressed a sense of excitement about the Jewish return to what they termed Judea and Samaria, fully aware that such aspirations necessitate the displacement of Palestinians. “The assumption is that ‘We cannot get rid of [the roughly 3 million] Palestinians right now in the West Bank,’” Etkes explained, encapsulating the settlers’ mindset. “So what we have to do is isolate them and take from them their means of livelihood.”
This strategy of isolation is evident in the tactics employed by settlers, who often utilize livestock to graze on Palestinian crops, thereby asserting control over the land. While settlers like Netanel may not profit from the livestock in traditional economic terms, the intimidation factor they provide is invaluable in consolidating territorial claims. The presence of herds of sheep and goats serves not only as a physical occupation of land but also as a psychological weapon against Palestinian farmers, who find themselves increasingly unable to cultivate their own fields.
The ramifications of these developments extend beyond mere land disputes; they reflect a broader systemic issue of violence and impunity. According to the United Nations, no Israeli soldier has faced prison time for killing a Palestinian in the West Bank since at least 2017. Investigations into settler violence have largely
Reviewed by: News Desk
Edited with AI assistance + Human research
