US Teens Join Hardline Israeli Settlers

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 15, 2009 7:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – Young Americans are joining a movement of hardline Jewish settlers who vow to battle both the Israeli army and Palestinian militants to protect West Bank settlements, Matt McAllester writes in Details. Tired of pleading and rock-throwing, they say they plan to fight fire with fire, shooting at Israeli troops, if necessary, and bombing Palestinians. "If they use violence, then we're justified doing the same," says a 21-year-old Brooklynite. "A lot of kids have got no authority, just them and God out there on the hills," says an older settler.

"I very much believe I'm a threat to my own government," says a 15-year-old Israeli who grew up in New Rochelle, New York, now in a militant group called Hilltop Youth. "There will be no giving up." Others advocate destroying the mosque on the Temple Mount to spark an all-out Arab-Israeli war, which would no doubt draw in US forces. Quips one settler: "How does it feel to meet a Jewish terrorist?"

[Images (6)]

[Quotes (1)]

Jewish settler youths gather on a hilltop near the West Bank settlement of Avnei Hefetz, west of Tulkarem, Monday, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)

A Jewish settler, right, points his gun at Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village Burin, near Nablus, Friday, Aug. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon makes a speech in an aircraft hangar July 14, 2004 at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. (Getty Images)

Jewish settlers stand in front of their mobile home June 27, 2001 at the Gilad Outpost, which overlooks a West Bank road. (Getty Images)

A Jewish settler armed with an M-16 assault rifle speaks on his cell phone as he passes a mobile home June 27, 2001 in the West Bank settlement of Ofra. (Getty Images)

Jewish settlers raise their guns at Palestinians and activists, not seen, in the West Bank village Burin, near Nablus, Friday, Aug. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

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We're heading toward a situation where in all likelihood there will be bloodshed between Jews. I say this with a heavy heart. - Yekutiel Ben Yaakov, settler in Ariel

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 13 comments

Stuart

Aug 16, 2009 12:13 PM CDT

Even if your claims were true, I didnt realize the punishment for theft is the murder of children. You sound every bit as extreme as the worst of those you condemn. I wish upon you what you wish upon others.

riffran

Aug 16, 2009 8:26 AM CDT

ahhhh subtle sarcasm...too funny

Revenge_of_Mint

Aug 16, 2009 5:52 AM CDT

What children? You mean the "children" in this article? The people who are waving guns at protesters and innocent Palestinians? I'm not saying that extremism is right and allot of innocent people get caught in the sidelines? But these fuckers deserve to be shot. They are not only stealing they are threatening lives. Both sides Palestine and Israel are in the wrong here but it seems many can't smell Israel's shit and blame it all on Palestine.

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