The Settlers | WATCH DOCS

A renowned British journalist returns to the West Bank after fourteen years to explore the growing community of Israeli settlers, including Daniella Weiss, the charismatic “godmother” of the settlement movement, who sees her mission as the fulfillment of a divine plan. With his characteristic calm, curious, and seemingly naive manner, Theroux coaxes his interviewees into revealing the full scope of their radical convictions. For many settlers, expansion is the realization of a national myth, echoing the American Manifest Destiny, as reflected in the conquest of the Wild West. The influx of supporters from the U.S., and one settler’s unabashed cowboy obsession, make the comparison even more fitting. Once a fringe movement, the settler enterprise now enjoys support at the highest levels of the Israeli government, despite its activities remaining illegal under international law. 

Konrad Wirkowski