Palestinian Village Embraces Non-Violent Resistance After Years of Armed Struggle
A Palestinian village in the South Hebron Hills has shifted from armed resistance against Israel to non-violent methods, with residents citing accumulated failures and harsh consequences of violence as reasons for the change. The village of a-Tuwani, part of the Masafer Yatta region, has seen increasing international and Israeli solidarity, with activists documenting daily life and potential evictions.
This shift contrasts with the actions of some Israeli settlers in the area. The article highlights the establishment of the "Dromah Farm" outpost near the settlement of Avigail, which was officially recognized in September 2023. Settlers there acknowledge engaging in "occupation" and causing friction with Palestinians, with one resident stating that the label of "Jewish terrorism" legitimizes their actions and helps them "center themselves."
The report also details a tragic incident in July 2025 where Yinnon Levi, a settler facing international sanctions, allegedly shot and killed Odeh Al-Hadhaleen, a Palestinian teacher and activist, in the village of Umm al-Kheir. Levi was reportedly attempting to conduct infrastructure work on private Palestinian land. The Palestinian residents of Umm al-Kheir face severe restrictions, with their area declared a military zone where only Jewish residents are permitted.
Ron Shachner, a founder of the Jewish settlement in the area, criticizes the lawlessness of some settlers, calling the outposts "a thorn in the side." He warns that allowing settlers to act with impunity endangers everyone and undermines the state, stating, "If we surrender control to the thuggish behavior of civilians, we are shooting ourselves in the foot."
The article references an Oscar-nominated documentary, "No Other Land," which portrays the survival struggles of Masafer Yatta residents against displacement. However, it notes that the film omits the Israeli Supreme Court's ruling that these homes are located in a declared firing zone since 1980.
