An American journalist recently endured a harrowing attack by Israeli settlers while reporting in the West Bank, shedding light on the escalating violence faced by Palestinians and those documenting their plight.
Jasper Nathaniel, a journalist known for his work covering abuses against Palestinians, shared his experience on the Breaking Points program, detailing the dangers journalists face on the ground and what he describes as complicity by the Israeli military in settler violence.
Nathaniel was in Tormuziah, a village close to Ramallah, documenting the olive harvest amidst mounting fears of settler violence. This time of year is crucial for the community, prompting farmers to band together for safety. Yet, tensions escalated when Nathaniel and others were confronted by numerous aggressive settlers who obstructed roads, brandished firearms, and launched assaults on Palestinian families and their properties.
“I was part of a group made up mostly of Palestinian Americans,” Nathaniel recounted. “Being the only white individual, I stepped out, raised my hands, and pleaded with soldiers for safe passage. Instead, they aimed their guns at me and interrogated me harshly.” Initially, the soldiers assured assistance but later abandoned the group, leaving them exposed to potential harm.
The situation descended into chaos as Nathaniel described the scene: “Around 100 settlers charged down from the hills, vandalizing vehicles, dragging people out, and assaulting them. I ran for my life,” he recalled. He witnessed a settler shattering his car’s windshield and then violently attacking an elderly woman harvesting olives, rendering her unconscious and continuing the assault even as she lay helpless. Two European activists were also targeted as Nathaniel tried to aid the woman, who eventually required intensive care due to a brain hemorrhage.
Nathaniel also shared a troubling interaction with the U.S. Embassy, which he contacted repeatedly for protection. According to publicly shared text exchanges, embassy officials indicated that safeguarding American citizens was the responsibility of Israel as the host nation and declined to take action. He characterized the response as a “drop dead” message from his own government. While the embassy reportedly acknowledged Israel’s inadequate protection of Americans in the West Bank, no corrective measures were offered.
Importantly, Nathaniel emphasized these attacks were not random or fringe actions by isolated individuals. “These settlers operate with coordination and support from the Israeli government and the IDF,” he said. The government often backs settler outposts illegally established on Palestinian land, granting retroactive authorization and providing political and financial support.
Nathaniel also detailed a disturbing exchange with the U.S. Embassy, which he contacted repeatedly seeking protection. According to texts he shared publicly, embassy officials told him that protecting American citizens was the responsibility of the host nation, Israel, and declined to intervene. He described the response as a “drop dead” message from his own government. The embassy itself reportedly acknowledged Israel was falling short on protecting Americans in the West Bank but offered no remedial action.
The interview highlighted the broader pattern of brutality Palestinians and their allies face daily. Nathaniel has documented numerous killings of Palestinian Americans near his location, including close relatives of people he travels with. He pointed to the near impunity with which settlers operate, facilitated by military inaction or active assistance.
Despite the brutality, Nathaniel noted a paradoxical temporary calm during a recent olive harvest, with the IDF patrolling more visibly and taking complaints seriously, though he doubted the peace would last. The police commander acknowledged the severity of the recent videos capturing settler violence, promising investigations that Nathaniel personally doubted would be effective.
Nathaniel’s testimony paints a stark picture of a region where aggressive settlers backed by state power terrorize native Palestinians and reporters alike, and where American diplomatic protection is conspicuously absent. His courage in continuing to report under such conditions brings crucial attention to a crisis often ignored by mainstream narratives.
Watch the full Breaking Points interview with Jasper Nathaniel:
This article is based on an exclusive interview broadcast on Breaking Points with Jasper Nathaniel, an American journalist detailing his experience witnessing settler violence and his interactions with Israeli forces and U.S. officials.
