Louis Theroux has spoken about his new tell-all documentary, in which he explores why the world has “clearly shown” its ability to tolerate Israeli actions against Palestinians.
The BBC series Louis Theroux: The Settlers is set to air this week, marking Theroux’s return to the West Bank after 15 years.
In a piece for Deadline News ahead of the series launch, Theroux shared that he spent three weeks travelling through the West Bank, documenting “the world of the Israeli ultra-nationalists” who have established settlements in the region—settlements considered illegal under international law.
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Reflecting on his first visit in 2010, he recalled being struck by how a group could openly pursue an expansionist ethnonationalist agenda while benefiting from a separate and privileged legal system, all under the protection of the Israeli army.
Theroux said the inspiration for the documentary came after reading pieces in The New Yorker and The New York Times, which indicated that with global focus on Gaza, settler activity in the West Bank had intensified.
Filmed in two phases, the documentary features interviews with settlers and their leaders, including Daniella Weiss, often referred to as the “Godmother” of the settler movement.
Theroux also visited several settlements, including Evyatar—recently approved by the Israeli government but still considered illegal under international law. Theroux explained that his aim is to engage with individuals often seen as being on the controversial side of a story. He wrote:
I try to hear from those at the heart of a story who, broadly speaking, are viewed as being ‘in the wrong’. Naturally, giving airtime to these people can lead to accusations of ‘platforming’. I understand the charge. My decision to film means potentially millions will be exposed to the views of people who may be racist or fundamentalist or bigoted.
He acknowledged the criticism that can come with this approach:
But making a documentary isn’t just a matter of handing someone a megaphone and saying ‘have at it’. It’s a process of asking the right questions, challenging, contextualizing. Doing journalism.
Theroux continued:
He described The Settlers as an attempt to expose the beliefs of those living on occupied land, revealing how openly anti-democratic and supremacist some of their views are. Theroux also pointed out the complexity and risks involved in highlighting exclusionary nationalism, particularly when it comes from people with a long history of suffering and persecution. Still, he emphasized:
It should go without saying that extremists and ideologues exist in all communities. No one should get a pass.
He added
Theroux argues that it would be wrong to let religious nationalist settlers and their far-right allies in government claim ownership of Jewish identity and dismiss valid criticism of their views and actions as mere bigotry. Theroux acknowledged that no matter how he presents the documentary, some viewers may still perceive The Settlers as anti-Israel.
He explained that part of his motivation for returning to the West Bank was his belief that other nations are studying occupied territories for “clues as to what their own future might look like.”
Some global populist leaders view the ideology of the settler community as a prototype for a type of nationalism they would like to practise. They regard Israeli settlers as the tip of the spear of what they frame as a global war against Islam.
He added
The Settlers is scheduled to air on BBC Two this Sunday at 9pm.
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