In a detailed thirty-minute segment of Last Week Tonight aired on Monday, comedien and show host John Oliver took a thorough look at the contentious issue of West Bank “settlements” and the alleged abuses committed by Israel’s military in the area.
Oliver started the episode by emphasizing the highly charged nature of the West Bank “settlements” issue, noting that “even small details concerning it can make headlines.” He cited a prominent 2021 headline: “Ben and Jerry’s to stop sales in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” as an example of how even minor aspects of the topic attract significant attention.
Throughout the episode, Oliver explored several critical aspects, including the displacement of Palestinians by “Jewish settlers,” the disparity in legal treatment between Jews and Palestinians, and the impact of checkpoints on Palestinian communities.
He argued that these conditions reflect a systemic apartheid, criticized Israel for constructing on land it has seized unlawfully, and condemned the country for flouting international law with its West Bank settlements.
Oliver’s segment aimed to shed light on the complex and controversial nature of the issue while calling for a reevaluation of international policies and human rights standards in the region.
* The Jerusalem Post contributed to this article.