The Fight for the West Bank

Hello. >> Hi, Louie. This is Rachel Abrams from. the Daily. >> Hi, Rachel. >> Thank you so much for making time to. speak with us. >> Thank you. >> Where are you physically right now? >> I am currently in my house in the West. Bank under siege by Israeli settlers, extremists. We are not allowed to leave the. property.

The settlers wants my family, the. neighbors [music] family to leave. So. simply they can steal the houses and. take over. They want the entire land, the entire mountain, all the houses. >> What's happening right now, Louie? Like. are there settlers outside that you can. see from inside your house right now? >> Yes, I am watching them as we speak. There's three settlers. that's [music]. about 300 to 400 yards from me. Uh they.

brought couches [music] and they sitting. in the sun and moments ago there's a. three soldiers and I was watching uh. wondering what what's the soldiers going. to do to them? Are they going to arrest. them? They going to remove them? Are. they going to tell them it's a closed. military zone? Because this is what they. told me yesterday. Absolutely. [music]. They did nothing. They just looked. around. They talked to them probably for. 5 minutes [music] and they just left.

them. >> It's it's it's insane. [music]. >> From the New York Times, I'm Rachel. Abrams and this is the Daily. For the past [music] year, there's been. a huge increase in violence in the West. Bank. Israeli [music] settlers have been. terrorizing Palestinians, setting fire. to their property, uprooting their olive. groves, [music] and stealing their. animals, all in an effort to drive them. off their land. According to the United Nations, [music].

more than a thousand Palestinians have. been injured and more than 20 killed so. far just this year. That's more than. twice the number of killings [music] as. in 2025. But the settlers seldom face any. consequences for their actions. In part. because they receive broad support from. the Israeli [music] government. Today we talked to Palestinian American. Louis Rei in the West Bank about the. settlers that have arrived at [music]. his doorstep.

It's Wednesday, [music]. September 2nd. >> [music]. >> When we called Louis Rei, he was in his. house in Kustra, a small village of. about 5,000 people in the northern West. Bank. >> Louis talked to us from his bedroom. where he could look out the window and. keep an eye on what was happening. outside. I wonder whether you ever. expected that this would be your view.

>> Absolutely not. >> This is actually Louis second home. He. normally lives in Ohio where he. immigrated to in 2004. >> The Kusra is where Louis grew up. >> and never used to be like this. >> Back in the days, we did not have no. issues with the settlers. >> Mhm. [clears throat]. >> They were not aggressive as happening. right now. We did have a settlement [music] next to.

our village. I remember that settlement. when I was a kid. But we always told. that's going to be temporarily and. [snorts] there is going to be a peace. agreement and they will leave soon. None. of them will be here. >> So just never dealt with any of them, never interact with [music] any. Just. drive and pass them, you know, that's. it. Given that this was kind of a quiet.

period, Louie, what was it like to grow. up in Kustra, the town of Kusra? >> So, our town is really a good special. town. >> It's about 850 m above sea level. So, you can be on the mountain and looking. down, [music]. you see the entire village. The weather here is beautiful. No matter. how hot it is, you always [music] have a. breeze coming directly from the sea.

>> Most of the people was a farmers, so there's a lot of olive trees, figs. and grapes [music] and peaches. >> And my family, we are nine brothers and. one sister. >> Oh wow. My dad, he used to [music] have. a junkyard with cars and auto parts. And. my mom uh staying at home, we always.

gave her hard time dealing with nine. brothers when we were kids. >> Boys really outnumbered her. >> Yes. With only one sister. One of my favorite memories was school. Once a [music] year they used to arrange. a road trip. It's like a vacation. All. day vacation. >> Mhm. >> To take us to [music]. the Dead Sea. >> Oh yeah. >> Because in that time, you know, there's.

Mediterranean Sea. It's only 1 hour, but. none of the West Bank residents allowed. to go to the uh beach. >> and we always see on TV [music] kids. jumping in the pools, swimming, but we. never experienced it. [music]. So in that time probably was my first. time to swim in a water. >> and it was like a a dream becomes true.

to us probably one of the most wonderful. experience. >> Mhm. >> So we did have a lot of good memories in. Kustra. Do you remember Louie when you first. started thinking about immigrating to. the United States? >> My older brothers, they were in the.

United States early 90s and that's why I. [snorts] thought I would have a better. future and opportunity if I go to United. States. So I applied for the University. of Toledo. M. >> and I learned English there. So yes, I. was the fortunate one to be in the. United States and become a successful. businessman. >> and even more fortunate that I end up. for love and marry my wife. Now I have a. beautiful family. I have two girls. I.

have a 19 years old. She just started. second year in college. Sam University. Toledo. >> Oh, you must be so proud. >> Yes. And I have uh 10 years old. She's. uh started fifth grade two days ago. And. you know, they born and raised in. America. They know the American way, but. we like them to know the Palestinian. culture as well. So we take them, we. bring them to visit often here.

>> Mhm. >> And they like it. And one time I bring. my daughters here and they ask me, "How. come we can't have our own house here? >> [music]. >> I start thinking about it. I said, you. know, we we come here more often. Maybe. that would be good for my retirement, the future. Maybe I'll start spending. more time here in Kusla when I get. older. And I made my decision and I. start building it on a beautiful.

mountain. It has a beautiful view. [music] You can see Jordan, which is the. country next to us. Jordan, I can see. clearly if I look to the left, to the. west, I can see Tel Aviv and sometimes. [music] I can see the sea from the same. spot. >> And the house, the way I design it, [music] it's the American style. Everything is open. There is no doors. whatsoever. [music] I cared about the. outside, the front yard, the backyard,

[music] the trees. I just wanted to be. my peaceful and my retirement [music]. vacational home. >> Now before I did this, I made sure that. it is 100% legal. I started the. blueprint. I took the blueprint to the. government, >> the Israeli government. >> No, the Palestinian government because. this is a designated area B under the. Palestinian Authority under Oslo.

agreement. B area. They gave it to the Palestinian. to control it. So if I need to build and. pull permit, I don't need to go to the. Israelis. They tell me go to the. Palestinians. >> Okay. So you go and you check with the. Palestinian Authority to confirm that. you had the legal right to build this. house. >> Correct. Yes. So I went to the. Palestinian Authority. They gave me the. authorization in 2023. and I started the house. and.

probably one of the most beautiful. things I ever done. >> I was proud of it. But never crossed my mind that one day. the settlers will be able to come in. area B and claim that it belong to them. Can you just describe the moment, the. first moment that you learned that. settlers were encroaching on the house, that these tensions had really arrived.

at your doorstep? >> This started in January. >> Uh-huh. >> My brother called me, said the settlers. came on top of the mountain. They start coming down the hill driving. those ATVs every night [music] checking. out the areas who which houses have. people which house is empty. So I told. my brother I want you to install. security cameras cuz looks like it's not. [music] safe. So I put the security. cameras and then in March 2:30 in the.

morning. I got notifications some someone at my. house. There's like four or five setters. masked. They start jumping over the fence. They brought ladders. They bought tools. then and they start doing the damages. >> What kind of damage did they do?

>> Well, I had an automatic motors for the. gates. They damaged the they start. breaking the lights around uh the all. the yards. They stole all my routers, modems. They cut the main electricity. panel wires. They they damaged it. cutting and damaging my security. cameras. They went offline one by one. One by one. >> Yeah.

[clears throat]. >> Believe it or not, I watched them live. >> back in Ohio. >> Yes. Back in Ohio. [music]. after this incident, I talked to my. brother and said, "Okay, we're going to. fix it. We're going to put more security. guard on the windows so they can't get. in. Brand new security cameras, fix the. gates, fix the internet, fix the lights. >> And he did all this. Now he said, "I'm.

going to move in. I'm going to move in. with my family to protect the house.". >> Wow. >> And he did. >> Louie, all of this sounds unbelievably. stressful, but when do the settlers. actually start camping out outside of. your house? >> That was August 9th. Israeli settlers, [music]. extremists. They brought like four ATVs. They parked. them in front of the house and. [clears throat] they build a tent.

[music] in front of the house. They. start jumping over the fence and again. when this happened, you know, I was back. in Ohio and every movement [music] I get. a notification. How did it feel, Louie, to be so far. away watching all of this happening? >> That was honestly, it's it was very. stressful. Imagine that someone is attacking. uh your family member and you're.

watching it live from distance. Literally, you're watching it live. That's what happened to me. And in [music] that moment, my brother. and his son, they were terrified. They're going to attack uh him inside. the house. [music]. So, my brother called the police that. night and. they dispatched an IDF vehicle,

but instead of helping my brother, they. went straight to the [music] tent. They celebrated with those settlers. They sat down with them and uh were. basically chilling out with them and. drinking and they conducted prayer with. those settlers. And I'm talking to my. brother and we we paused. My brother. paused [music] and I paused too and I. asked him what we going to do next.

because we felt they are only few feet. away taking over this house. And my brother, he said, "I'm I'm not. leaving this house. I don't want to. leave it, but I have an issue. I have no. food.". >> Yeah. [snorts]. >> When he said this, I said, "You know. what? I can't handle it anymore. I can't. sleep. [music]. I'm going to book my flight. I'm going. to come. I'll do whatever [music] it. takes for me to provide you food and.

protection and try to end the siege. We'll be right back. >> Louis, how did your wife and your. children feel about you flying back to. the West Bank at a moment where it is so. much more dangerous? >> Well, it was it was a tough decision to.

be honest with you. Yes, they were. terrified. They were stressing out, especially my 10 years old, asking me, "Is the settlers going to go inside the. house while you were there? What's going. to happen to you? Are you going to be. safe?" And sometimes I have to lie to. her. I said, "I'll be okay. I'll be. safe." Even though that's not the case. I do feel for my own safety here because. it is not safe. [laughter]. >> If I'm getting this right, I think you. arrived about a week after the settlers.

first put that tent up outside of your. house. That's when you first saw your. brother after all this time knowing he. was under threat. What was it like to. see him for the first time? >> Well, we are brothers. >> Yeah, that's my brother sight. >> So to be with him and hug him for the. first time. >> It was a lot of emotion. >> Awesome. >> Then I grabbed the American flag. This.

is what I what I brought. >> I brought it with me from Ohio all the. way to Kusra. >> To my house. >> Got to put it on the house over there. >> And they went on top of my house and. they raised the American flags on my. house. >> Oh, what were you trying to telegraph? >> Usually when settlers steal a house, the. first thing they do, they raise their. own flag on top of the house. It's a. yellow flag. M. >> and I [clears throat] said if if it God.

forbid if this happens, if they want to. raise it, they have to take the most. powerful flag in the world, the American. flag, and raise their flag. That's. that's that's what's going to happen in. theory. And that's the reason uh I put. the American flag. >> Was any part of you also hoping that. maybe the settlers would be more. intimidated knowing that an American was. there? They did not care because the next day.

a settler start coming down toward me. and he dared to tell me myself I need to. leave because this is his land. That's. my house. I'm in my house. I said that's. my land. >> And I told the Israeli soldiers they. were present. >> He needs to be removed from here. He's. illegal here. He needs to be removed. because he's illegal. >> Was this Louis was this your first.

interaction with a settler ever? >> It is. This is the first time I talked. to a settler like this face to face. Yes. >> Allowed to be in my house. >> This is okay. That's. >> and I told them property that's belong. to me. >> That's my land and I'm staying here. I'm. not. >> I sold this. >> Yeah. He's the one came to me. I didn't. go to him. Since then, the IDF decided to come and. remove the tent in front of the house.

But now we are unable to leave freely in. and out of our houses from the IDF. They. claim it's a closed military zone. >> What does that mean exactly? >> There is an IDF tent right now. Actually, I'm watching it as we speak. front of my house. That one is bucking. us leaving our own uh house or walking. in the yard. >> And have you asked the IDF like why are. you keeping me in my house? Like what.

what's the reasoning behind this? Have. you talked to any of the military people. there? >> Yes. That was yesterday when I was. walking in my yard. >> Please cooperate. Head back to the. villa. >> I understand. >> Why you can't walk in my yard? My own. yard. >> I'm not trying to argue. >> I spoke with my commanding officer. Okay. And he just said, "Whoever is here. has to go back into the villa. Please. don't make me use force." All right. >> He said, "Please go unless we're going. to use force against you.". >> Wow.

>> That's what he literally told me. yesterday. >> Thank you. >> Can Can you tell me your name so when I. call I can tell him who whoever trying. to. >> My name is IDF. All right. >> IDF spokesperson. >> No, IDF commander. >> IDF commander. >> Okay. I I would listen. I'm not I'm not. here to argue. No. No, >> you know, first we're dealing with the. settlers. Now with the IDF is here, still not able to move freely. So, you.

know, we the same the we the same. situation, the same result. Either way, settlers or IDF, they're doing the same. thing on us, >> right? You want the soldiers to leave. because they're enforcing this closed. military zone where you can't move. freely. But you also fear what will. happen if with the settlers if the. soldiers leave. It's an impossible. situation. >> Exactly. And and we still as of today. able to spot settlers able to walk. around the house almost every day.

>> I just want to mention here that the US. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabe, said. that the IDF and Israeli police did go. to your house to remove what he. described as quote Israeli terrorists at. Huckabe's request, at the US's request. And I guess I wonder whether you feel. like in this moment the US authorities. could have or should have done more. >> Um I watched all uh Mike Hakab's inner. view and every time he did condemn it.

He did say that they are terrorists and. I appreciate all these comments but. that's not wasn't enough because nothing. happened on the ground. >> Mhm. Uh I really wish that uh Mike. Hakabe himself or send the team from the. US embassy to come visit my house so. them can witness what's going on uh here. what happening to an American citizen in.

the West Bank. >> But Louie, don't you think that they. know what's going on? I mean there is. videos on the internet. They've clearly. made statements in response to this. I. mean, it doesn't feel like the issue is. that they don't know what's happening. >> I'm sure they do. I'm sure they do. And. that's uh it's it's a question I always. ask myself. >> Uh why everybody on the news, including. the US officials, including the Israeli. officials, including the army, even the. settlers, the leaders of the settlers,

they condemned what the Israeli did in. Kusra. Okay. Why none of you able to. move five to 10 settlers? Just go ahead, arrest them, put them in jail, prosecute. them, and uh lift the siege on the. residents in Kosua and let them live in. in peace. I don't have the answer. >> You know, I'm thinking, Louis, of the. person who might be listening to this. and thinking like at the end of the day, it's just a building. It's just it's. just materials, right? Like why is it so.

important to put yourself or your. brother or anybody in your family in. harm's way to protect a piece of. property that isn't even your primary. home? It's like your second house. Like. how would you explain why you and your. brother and anybody else feels the need. to like put yourself at risk for this. place? >> Well, it's not really just the home. It's not about the home. It's about the. entire land. And you know just maybe five years ago I.

was walking my father's land [music] and. I know he inherited this from his father. and from his grandfather. and I looked at a wall. and I start looking at it and imagine I. said how many years [music] is it like. 200 years 300 years. >> and I took [music]. Barack. >> Iraq rock. >> A rock. Yes. It just like I felt there's.

an emotion to that rock. Maybe one of my. great grandpa touched it. >> M. >> and I grabbed it and I just I said I'm. going to take it. I took it home and I. have it in my office in Ohio. It just remind me again this is this is. our land the settlers [music] is trying. to steal.

and what's been going on. changed a lot of people dreams and. that's I'm one of them. The dream that I thought of that I'm. gonna live in this house in peace. I. don't see none of that happening. Uh. while I see soldiers [music] surrounding. my house and settlers still able and. come harassing [music] me. >> To be honest with you, the general mood.

in the West Bank, it's hopeless. But it doesn't mean that we have to give. up. We have to fight to protect our. houses and stay in our land. >> Do you have any idea when you're going. to go back to Ohio? >> Um, my wife asked me this question. I. told her I'm living day by day. I will. update her. It could be a couple weeks. It could be a couple months. I have no. idea. >> But I'm staying here until I make sure.

my house is safe, my family's safe. I'll. do my best on that. Louis [music] Rei, thank you so much for. giving us all this time. >> Thank you. Thank you for having me. [music]. >> When we reached out to the Israeli. military for comment, they told us that. the IDF is operating in Kusra with the. aim of quote protecting its residents. and preventing confrontations.

They also said that Louis Rei [music] is. free to come and go from his house. But. the family remains there, afraid to. leave. The IDF [music] is still. stationed just outside the property, as. are some settlers. When we asked the IDF if anyone has been. arrested in connection with the case, they told [music] us to ask the police. We did ask the Israeli police, but they. didn't respond. The US ambassador to. Israel, Mike Huckabe, told us that the. [music] US has a very strong engagement. with the IDF to act on behalf of US.

citizens. Over the weekend, there were more. violent attacks on Palestinians by. Israeli settlers in the West Bank. And. the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin. Netanyahu, who has largely played down. these attacks as the actions of a small. minority, issued a rare rebuke, [music]. condemning the attackers and calling. their actions criminal. He said that. they're causing quote immense [music]. harm to the law-abiding settler. community and damaging quote Israel. standing in the world.

We'll be right back. [music] Here's what else you need to. know today. On Tuesday, for the second.

time in 3 days, the US attacked Iran, puncturing a month-long break in. fighting between the two countries. Iranian officials said the latest. [music] American attacks cause. significant damage to sites across. Iran's southern shores, [music]. including a military base. In a social. media post, President Trump [music]. threatened even bigger strikes if Iran. decides to retaliate. And [music] the global market for. government bonds experienced a massive. sell-off on Tuesday, pushing borrowing.

costs, which are closely [music] tied to. bonds, to some of their highest levels. in decades. Analysts blame the selloff on a growing. consensus [music] that officials across. the world will raise interest rates to. tamp down inflation, lowering the value. [music] and the appeal of existing. bonds. >> [music]. >> Today's episode was produced by Claire. Tennis Getter, Relle Bonja, and Lindseay. Garrison. It was edited by Maria Burn. with help from Paige Cowat [music] and. fact checked by Susan Lee. It contains.

music by Pat McCusker [music]. and Alyssa Moxley and was engineered by. Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by. Wonderly. Special thanks to David. Halpinger, Aaron Boxerman, [music] and. Noan Blanks. >> [music]. >> That's it for the daily. I'm Rachel. Abrams. See you tomorrow.