Louis Theroux is no stranger to controversy, but his latest documentary, The Settlers, has thrust him into the centre of the Israeli-Palestinian debate—and not in the way he’s used to. Known for his curious, disarming style, Theroux this time dives into one of the most emotionally and politically fraught regions on Earth: the West Bank. But instead of universal acclaim for his journalistic bravery, he’s facing sharp criticism—mostly from viewers who say his coverage was anything but balanced.
The allegation of discrimination is at the center of the pushback. Daniella Weiss, a well-known figurehead of the Jewish settlement movement, is described by Theroux as a” sociopath.” Weiss is depicted as crusader with little compassion and has long advocated for Jewish arrangement in disputed lands and holds greatly intellectual views regarding the displacement of Palestinians. Her language in the video is aggressive, and Theroux never minces words when criticizing her.
Israeli advocate Issa Amro is presented in a much more friendly lighting. Theroux follows Amro through Hebron and shows how harshly repressed Palestinians are in places under Israeli military rule. However, a 2014 Facebook post by Amro, which is a term that has historically been associated with violent rebellion, was immediately discovered by critics. This is evidence that Theroux’s portrayal is sided: Arab militancy is dismissed as determined resistance, and Israeli extremism is portrayed as social corruption, according to detractors.
Theroux therefore chose not to include or at least didn’t concentrate on anything else. The Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which 1, 200 Israelis were killed and 250 were taken prisoner, is the most striking mistake, in the opinion of detractors. A geological event led to the assault, which altered Israeli security measures and heightened concerns among colonists living in the West Bank. The film is accused of ignoring a crucial piece of framework that explains why Jewish society, particularly its right wing, has honed its grip on Arab threats by mostly glossing over it.
Hebron, the place of much of the documentary, is itself a force burner. The area is divided into H1 and H2, which are both under Jewish power, and where a small minority of Jewish settlers live among a much larger Palestinian people. The resistance is unchanging. Palestinians experience everyday life as well as regular clashes with the military through checkpoints, parade restrictions, and other daily encounters. Israeli soldiers and settlers see themselves as under siege, but they are also frequently watchful of violence.
Theroux’s glass provides unpleasant insight into the suffering of Palestinians living under occupation. However, he is accused of undermining the larger safety picture, particularly given that settlers frequently face targets and that military presences are more important for defending than control. Some people now view the video as rhetoric rather than a truthful exploration because of this disparate relationship.
Theroux’s supporters claim that the movie needed to be provocative, that it succeeded in highlighting intellectual fanaticism within the immigrant motion and the social cost of occupation. Daniella Weiss, in this context, is a dangerous thread of thought that is gaining more and more of an impact in Israeli politics. She is not just one words among many. It was not discrimination, but it was accountability to challenge her violently.
However, viewers are divided by the documentary’s strengthen because it is more aggressive than Theroux’s standard. Theroux typically allows content to suspend themselves in their own terms. He appears to be more aggressive, less neutral, and obviously more uncomfortable around. Some view this as a long-overdue social lesson. Others view it as a deception of literary independence.
The argument over The Settlers highlights a deeper issue: how difficult it is to portray a region’s history without being accused of partisanship. Israeli assault is accused of ignoring Jewish militancy in order to show it. The goal of minimizing Jewish trauma is to show how Arab suffering is to be reduced. By adopting a stance, whether it be subtle or overt, Theroux has entered this labyrinth.
Ultimately, which truths one ideals more depends on whether one finds The Settlers to be valiant or biased. But what’s clear is that Louis Theroux, who was once the king of the quietly spoken, slowly lit video, has chosen to enter the fray, and that the wind is fighting back this time.
