Chapo Trap House: "The Hills Have Eyes"
(Audio) A comprehensive rundown of my reporting in the West Bank
Hey all — I went on Chapo Trap House this week to talk through the root causes of the explosion in settler violence across the West Bank that led to the killing of an American citizen earlier this month. It’s probably the most comprehensive rundown I’ve given of the reporting I’ve done over the past 20+ months: describing the day-to-day cruelty I witnessed on the ground; breaking down Smotrich’s bureaucratic coup that enabled Israel to effectively annex the West Bank under cover of the war on Gaza; and examining how archaeology has always been central to the Zionist project, first as a way to manufacture a sense of national identity rooted in biblical history, and now as a bureaucratic weapon to seize land, demolish homes, and erase Palestinian presence under the guise of protecting Jewish heritage.
We also got into the intricate mechanics of how soldiers and settlers work together in a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing, from sabotaging basic civic infrastructure to fencing in villages and letting settlers terrorize whoever’s left exposed. I tried to paint a clear picture of life on the ground—what it means when the municipal system breaks down, when families can’t get to doctors, and violence becomes the norm. We discussed the growing sense of hopelessness and the evolving state of armed resistance in the West Bank.
It’s dark, obviously. But it’s also a Chapo episode, so we find ways to keep it light and funny, including Will Menaker’s new name for the Hilltop Youth—“feral deputized street urchins”—and a full rundown of my investigation into Shai Davidai, perhaps the most unhinged defender of Israel in America.
I hope you’ll give it a listen—and more importantly, share it with someone in your life who might need to hear it. The West Bank strips away all the usual justifications for Israel’s aggression (Hamas, 10/7), and forces a clearer look at what Israeli domination actually looks like. I think this conversation captures that.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts:
I’d love to hear your thoughts on our conversation in the comment section below.
Jasper
PS — here are all the pieces referenced on the show:
Shai Davidai Says Columbia Cleared Him. The University Disagrees
After Nonviolence | The end of peaceful resistance in Palestine (this one by Ben Ehrenreich)
And for new subscribers, here’s this past Sunday’s edition of my weekly newsletter to give you a sense of what to expect: An IDF Vet Seeks a Campus Safe Space.
Jasper -
I am listening to this interview in the early morning in London. It is good to hear your voice. The broadcast is chilling - an understatement - and compelling. Your work is important and, I say again, displays great courage and a high degree of intelligence. I shall continue to read your very thorough and informative reports. If you ever need anything from London [UK], please let me know.
Have a good day!
Robert.
I'm looking forward to listening to the podcast, so maybe I'm ahead of myself, but I'm curious about this phrase:
"first as a way to manufacture a sense of national identity"
Despite my anit-zionist sentiment, I do think theres something to be said about the validity of Jewish history in the Levant. Regardless of how Zionists leverage archeology to enact atrocities, uncovering history doesn't imply "manufacturing"... For instance, my father visited Jewish cemeteries in Vilnus where our family escaped from -- the govt wanted to put a sports stadium on top of them so there were protests a few years back -- but I wouldn't say protecting that history is simply to manipulate people into acknowledging the Holocaust. History is history, the issue is how people use it to justify their actions.
Again, I'll give the pod a listen and I'm guessing you address this point!