Judea and Samaria: inside the grater Israel

Following the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel began its military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai, and the Golan Heights. From 1973 onward, settlement expansion in the more remote areas of the occupied territories was encouraged. Yet, under the most recent Netanyahu government, Israel’s settlement project accelerated faster than any previous period in Israeli history.
Following the October 7th Hamas attack, the Israeli government endorsed a plan to increase financing to settlements and outposts and to construct new housing units, particularly in remote and isolated areas across the West Bank—what Israeli expansionists call “Judea and Samaria.”
Days after the attack, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir authorized the distribution of weapons and uniforms without insignia to settlers across the occupied territories. This decision accelerated attacks against Palestinians, which became more frequent and punitive than ever before. Settlers, who once attacked their Palestinian families in civilian clothing and with rudimentary weapons, now regularly commit similar acts of violence in uniform and with assault rifles.
This project aims to shed light on the complex reality of the settlements. The focus is on the human aspect of this story: the daily lives, beliefs, and motivations of those who reside within them. Most settlers belong to religious-nationalist communities who possess a messianic view of history, but another significant block are drawn by economic incentives, often from abroad.
Some settlements are isolated, far from the major Israeli cities, with limited infrastructure. Social life in these areas is frequently built around the defense of their seized land. Illegal outposts often rely on financial support from Zionist communities—both Jewish and Christian—worldwide. These settlements are often positioned in areas strategically significant for Israel’s long-term control, further complicating any potential peace agreements.
The photographs take the viewer beyond the surface of political narratives, focusing on personal stories and the social implications of life in these remote places, where the coexistence of strong ideologies and daily routines creates a unique contrast. By exploring this dynamic, the work seeks to offer psychological and emotional insight into those living in these settlements, raising questions about the wider implications of occupation and the growing polarization between communities.