Israel at War: A Nation Torn From Within

A year has passed since Hamas’s terrorist attack and Israel finds itself at a crucial crossroads in its history. An initial wave of shock has been replaced by an explosive mix of anger, determination and division within Israeli society. While bombs continue to rain down on Gaza and the threat of a regional conflict grows, Israel is in turmoil. In the streets of Tel Aviv, the walls are plastered with the faces of the 101 hostages still being held captive in Gaza, silent witnesses to an ongoing tragedy. Every Saturday, the town becomes the scene of mass protests, uniting an impressive range of Israeli society: the hostages’ families in despair, idealistic students and determined reservist soldiers. Among them, 37-year-old Yehuda embodies the dilemma tearing apart so many Israelis. This community manager, one of 300,000 civilians recalled into military service, had long been a passionate supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Today, that support has been profoundly called into question. Yehuda has joined “Brothers and Sisters in Arms”, a movement of soldiers who openly stand in opposition to the government and its allies from the religious far right. Netanyahu’s ability to maintain power depends on fragile coalitions with these ultra-religious factions. 13 of 29 government ministers are from this movement, including the controversial Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, and Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich. Their vision? An Israel whose borders are dictated by sacred texts, spanning across the entirety of the Palestinian territories. While Gaza is being bombed, settlement expansion is intensifying in the West Bank. In July, the government orchestrated the most substantial seizure of Palestinian land in three decades, appropriating 1,200 hectares. This policy is welcomed warmly by some of the West Bank’s most radical settlers. We met these extremist settlers. 32-year-old Amishav embodies this new generation of “pioneers”. Illegally positioned on a hill opposite the Palestinian territories, he dreams of a “Greater Israel” stretching from the Sinai to Iran. This rampant settlement expansion inexorably forces Palestinians into ever-narrower enclaves, often in a climate of violence. The UN has reported an eruption of settler attacks: 1,250 in ten months, triple that of the previous year. From Tel Aviv to the isolated outposts of the West Bank, from the bruised kibbutzim in the south to the tense border with Lebanon in the north, this feature dives into the heart of a profoundly divided Israeli society. While the war in Gaza continues and the international community expresses growing disapproval, Israel is at a crossroads. --- SUBSCRIBE for more amazing stories, including free FULL documentaries. On Java Discover we have an incredible library of award-winning documentaries: from world-leading investigations to true crime and history, we have something for everyone! Click the SUBSCRIBE button and make sure to set NOTIFICATIONS to stay updated with all new content! Follow us on TikTok, Facebook & Instagram: https://linktr.ee/javadiscover