Understanding the ‘Hilltop Youth’ with Akiva HaKohen

Hilltop Youth, discussed by Akiva HaKohen and Yehuda HaKohen
Who are the notorious "hilltop youth"? On The Next Stage podcast, Yehuda HaKohen provides a rare glimpse into Israel's most vilified subculture.


Following recent violence between Israeli security forces and radical Jewish teenagers in northern Samaria, Akiva HaKohen joins Yehuda HaKohen on The Next Stage podcast to provide listeners with a rare inside glimpse into the much vilified “hilltop youth” subculture.

In addition to presenting recent events in Yitzhar from the perspective of the residents and activist youth, the two Kohanim (priests) discuss who the term “hilltop youth” refers to, what vision drives them and what makes them so threatening in the minds of Israel’s current political leadership.

The two sharply disagree on Palestinian issues – with Yehuda arguing Akiva and his friends to be the Israelis most qualified to engage Palestinian activists due to similar experiences of oppression – but see eye-to-eye on the need for defining what makes a state “Jewish” and formulating a vision for the next chapter of Israel’s story.

Akiva HaKohen
Photo: Miriam Tzaḥi

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Guest: Akiva HaKohen

Hosted by: Yehuda HaKohen

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