Hilltop Youth

Hilltop Youth (Hebrew: נוער הגבעות‎, Noar HaGva'ot) is a term commonly used to refer to hardline, nationalist youth in Israel. These youth are often noted for establishing illegal outposts outside existing settlements. They are not centrally organized, but they receive assistance local community councils and state ministries and are protected by the Israeli military. Members linked to the group have been accused of engaging in Israeli settler violence, including attacks on Palestinian schools and mosques. Radical settlers have long carried out what they call "price tag attacks", a term used for targeting Palestinians in revenge for outposts demolished by the Israeli military.

Many of the hilltop youth feel that the mainstream settler movement has lost its way, opting for cheap housing close to major cities, built by local Arab labor, with tall fences and no space between their homes. The Youth often engage in organic farming and shun Palestinian labor in favor of 'Avoda Ivrit' - Hebrew labor. Much of Israel's organic produce is cultivated by the hilltop youth.^{[citation needed]}

A handful of the new hilltops, such as Sde Boaz, Ma'ale Rehav'am and Esh Kodesh are populated by both religious and non-religious Jews and there is a sense that they wish to serve as an example of religious tolerance in a society where the two groups often live apart from one another.

The mainstream Israeli settlement movement and other nationalist parties insist that the Hilltop Youth are not part of their movement.^{[citation needed]} The Hilltop Youth is officially condemned within Israel, with Defense Minister Ehud Barak referring to the group as unacceptable "homemade terror, Jewish-made terror".

Influences

The youth are influenced by religious Zionist ideals.^{[citation needed]} Their spiritual leader is Avri Ran,^{[citation needed]} though he does not see himself as such. The group's philosophy is a mix of contempt for the Israeli government and a desire for a restored Jewish monarchy.^{[citation needed]} They were also strongly influenced by the late Netanel Ozeri, who was killed by Hamas gunmen on Hilltop 26 near Hebron.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• About Nati Ozeri
• Interview with Avri Ran