Ziva Sharp leads religious Jewish activists in defending Palestinian homes against violent West Bank settlers
Ziva Sharp and approximately 30 other religious Jewish activists recently traveled to the West Bank to protect Palestinian residents from the growing pressure of violent settlers. The group, part of the Bnei Avraham movement, seeks to use their faith to mitigate the damage caused by Jewish people to Palestinians. During a recent visit to Jannatah, the activists were subjected to a violent expulsion by settlers who threw stones and used pepper spray, resulting in injuries to several activists and a journalist. The activists were specifically working to build a protective fence around the home of the Faraj family, whose land was being encroached upon by the Hilltop Youth movement. This movement seeks to establish outposts that are often illegal under Israeli law but are frequently rebuilt by extremists. Ziva Sharp noted that her commitment to her faith is humanistic and non-violent, contrasting with the religious Zionist extremists who often use Judaism to justify land conquest and violence. The group aims to to provide a pity, compassion, and justice for the Palestinians under constant pressure from the settlement expansion.