UNREPORTED WORLD: ISRAEL'S WILD WEST 1 OF 2

UNREPORTED WORLD: ISRAEL'S WILD WEST PART 1 OF 2

On the West Bank, where a quarter-of-a-million Israelis live cheek-by-jowl with over two million Palestinians, ideologically driven Israeli settlers are exploiting political weaknesses to take back settlements the Israeli government expelled them from only two years before.

Israel's government is in disarray after its failed Lebanon venture. The Palestinian authority is tearing itself apart in Gaza. On the West Bank, where a quarter-of-a-million Israelis live cheek-by-jowl with over two million Palestinians, ideologically driven Israeli settlers are exploiting these political weaknesses to take back settlements the Israeli government expelled them from only two years before and are expanding into new areas.

As Reporter Sandra Jordan and Producer Edward Watts find when a member of their own team is injured, violence in the West Bank is never far from the surface. As tensions escalate, the prospect of more widespread conflict across the West bank is growing by the day. If that happens, it'll make what's happening in Gaza look insignificant.

Jordan and Watts get an early indication of how dangerous life has become in the West Bank as they begin their journey at the Palestininan village of Bi'lin, whose land has been divided by Israel's security barrier. It's Friday, and Palestinians, Israelis and international activists are protesting against the wall.

Despite the peaceful demonstration, which takes place every Friday, Israeli soldiers decide to break it up with tear gas and rubber batons. The team's fixer, Massad Abu Toameh, is hit by a tear gas canister, sending him flying headfirst into some rocks. He's unconscious with a serious head injury and medics are forced to carry him off while the soldiers continue to fire rubber bullets at Jordan and Watts.