( CNN ) -- On September 30 , a group of Jewish Israelis from the activist groups Solidarity and Ta'ayush set out on a visit to support the Palestinian al Rifai family in the West Bank . The family 's claim to their land has been recognized by the Israeli Supreme Court , but the settlement of Anatot is nevertheless built upon it . Al Rifai family members have faced harassment for years while insisting on their right to access private land . The settlers of Anatot , enraged by the Israeli support of the Palestinian family , violently attacked the family and activists alike . It is all too common that Jewish settlements in the West Bank are built on stolen Palestinian land , and all too common that Palestinian farmers are prevented from cultivating and collecting their rightful harvest anywhere near these settlements . In 2007 , in a report based on the government 's own statistics , the Israeli group Peace Now showed that the majority of settlements are wholly or partially constructed on private Palestinian land . Regardless of what kind of land they are built upon , settlements are illegal under international law and contrary to U.S. policy . While Palestinians have long faced violence from both settlers and soldiers , now Jewish Israelis who choose to stand up for the basic human rights of Palestinians , can no longer expect protection from their own government . In Israel they are calling what happened a pogrom . What other name is there for state-condoned mob violence directed at a group of people simply because of their beliefs ? Until recently , Jewish Israelis willing to take the risk of solidarity visits to West Bank Palestinians have been able to use the privilege they have as Jews to minimize violence against Palestinians . When Jewish Israeli activists put their bodies between Palestinians and violence , both soldiers and settlers have held back . Thus perhaps a field can be plowed or olive tree picked if Jewish activists accompany Palestinian farmers as in Anatot . Palestinians live with the violence and repression of the Occupation every day , while the Israelis only visit it and then return home . Yet the fact that these Israelis choose to place themselves in harm 's way for the sake of justice is nothing short of inspiring . The violence in the video of the attack is shockingâ€ ” knives , rocks , blindside punches , screams of `` Death to Arabs '' and `` Death to Leftists . '' Most horrifying of all were the policemen who stood watching without interfering . No arrests were made , and not a single policeman took action as a group of about 50 activists was attacked by a mob of approximately 200 settlers . It should n't be surprising that Israeli soldiers and police choose not to protect some Israelis . The status of Israeli citizens who defy discriminatory government policies regarding Palestinian rights is steadily eroding . In July , the Knesset passed a law making it a punishable offense to advocate for boycotting settlement products . This non-violent tactic used worldwide in social justice struggles , a basic tenet of democracy and free speech , is now off-limits for Israelis . In August , in a frenzy of unfounded fear of widespread Palestinian violence following a U.N. proposal on Palestinian statehood , Israel announced a new policy of arming and training settlers . The settlers have long been armed and dangerous , but this gave them the legitimacy to act with impunity . Finally , in September , President Obama 's speech to the U.N. so lopsidedly supported Israel that Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman , a man even Marty Peretz called a `` neo-fascist , '' said that he would `` sign onto this speech with both hands . '' President Obama spoke not a word about occupation or settlements or the suffering of Palestinians . Is it any wonder that the settlers in Anatot felt nothing should hold them back ? The message , from all sides , is that Palestinians on their own land , and now the Israelis who dare to support them , are a dangerous enemy . At the end of the video a woman off-camera says shakily in Hebrew , `` This is really dangerous . I am afraid . '' To put your body in harm 's way for the sake of a righteous cause is both a hallmark of civil rights struggles and a remarkable personal act of will to transcend fear and discomfort . The pogrom occurred on the second day of Rosh Hashana , which also marks the beginning , in the Jewish tradition , of the Yomim Noraim , the days of reflection and repentance that culminate in Yom Kippur 10 days later . Especially for those of us who were raised with an intimate connection to an image of Israel as a safe haven and a beacon of light for all the world , it takes another kind of courage to face what it has become . As Americans , our government defends Israel in the economic , diplomatic and military realms , regardless of its actions . For those of us who are Jewish , Israel claims to act in our name . If the Israeli activists are brave enough to face physical harm , if Palestinian farmers risk attack just because they try to work their own lands -- are n't we obligated to face our own discomfort and speak up to end the American policies which make this disgrace possible ?
Rebecca Vilkomerson says Palestinians are often the victims of attacks from Israeli settlers . She is a member of an organization called Breaking The Silence, which has been documenting cases in which Israelis have killed Palestinians. Vilkomerson fears that Israelis who protest could now also be a target for settler violence .