Magazine Cover Showing Real Settler Sparks “Anti-Semitism” Claim

A dispute between Israel and an Italian publication has highlighted tensions over how settler violence in the occupied West Bank is documented and portrayed, after Israel’s ambassador in Rome accused a magazine cover of distorting reality.

The April 10 edition of L’Espresso featured a photograph of an armed Israeli in military-style clothing confronting a Palestinian woman under the headline “Abuse.”

Ambassador Jonathan Peled described the cover as “manipulative,” arguing it “promot[es] stereotypes and hatred.”

Peled also questioned the authenticity of the image, claiming it was “hard to prove” it had not been doctored.

Photographer Pietro Masturzo rejected such claims, stating in his instagram: “NO, the photo in question is not the result of Artificial Intelligence!”

He said the image was taken on October 12, 2025 in Idhna near Hebron, during the olive harvest, when settlers and soldiers prevented Palestinians from accessing their land.

The settler’s gesture, he added, mimicked “the sound a shepherd makes,” treating Palestinians “as if they were his own animals.”

The photograph formed part of broader reporting documenting settler activity. Testimonies cited in the magazine describe repeated incidents, including infrastructure damage, assaults, and seizure of resources such as water sources.

One resident said: “They’ve colonised all the water sources,” reflecting claims of systematic pressure on Palestinian communities. The coverage aligns with wider reporting of violence across the West Bank.

According to Palestinian health authorities, at least 1,050 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023, alongside over 72,329 killed in Gaza and 172,192 wounded. Recent incidents include the death of a 68-year-old woman during a raid in Jayyous.

The magazine also referenced 1,732 documented incidents of settler violence causing harm or damage in a recent reporting period, indicating a sustained escalation.

The ambassador’s criticism triggered significant online reaction, with users arguing the image reflects documented realities. One user wrote that the photograph captured “contempt and impunity” more effectively than extensive reporting.