Louis Theroux's The Settlers Exposes Violence of Zionism

Louis Theroux's new documentary, The Settlers, exposes the deeply entrenched and openly expressed racism, religious zeal, and anti-Palestinian sentiment among Israeli settlers in the West Bank, challenging the notion that extreme Zionism is a fringe position. Interviews with settlers like Ari Abramowitz and Daniella Weiss reveal a disregard for Palestinian existence and a belief in the divine and historical right to the land, while the documentary portrays the Israeli military's support for settler impunity. The film has been widely noted for its candid portrayal of settler-colonial attitudes, with several media outlets praising its unflinching depiction of the occupation. Critics and scholars argue that settler colonialism in Israel/Palestine is a structural project aimed at both land and memory, rather than mere retaliation, as explored in Professor Nasser Abourahme's new book. The documentary and related commentary highlight how Zionism is characterized by a hyper-nationalistic, colonial ideology that leverages religious and historical narratives to justify displacement and oppression. These works suggest that the violence and expansionism of the settler movement are not aberrations but central features of the Zionist project.