3 - History of the Settler Movement

Summary

There is a tendency to describe all settlers as cut from the same cloth, with the most radical settlers tainting the entire Jewish population of the West Bank with the image of extremism. Contrary to this widespread perception, the settler population is actually quite heterogeneous. To understand the settlers’ views, motivations and political impact, one must take this diversity into account. So far, few empirical studies have characterized the West Bank settler population, though several have pointed out the diverse character of settlements and their residents. This heterogeneity extends to the settler movement, even if its goals and motivations are narrower than those of the settler population.