Israeli Official Incitement: December 2021

I. Against the Palestinian People

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 30 December 2021)

“I am shocked every time to see terrorists1 on hunger strike for many days, and they are still live. I hope this terrorist2 who is on a hunger strike will continue his struggle until the end.”

Im Tirtzu Movement3 (Twitter, 29 December 2021)

“The attack on the children in Shimon Hazadik neighborhood4 is a direct result of a soft hand against terrorism. When you don't destroy the houses of terrorists5, and you don't deport their families, and you don't annul their residency, is it really surprising that they are not afraid of killing? We must fight terrorism.”

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 26 December 2021)

“IDF6 spokesperson continues to spread complete lies7 with the goal of making the settlers look bad and delegitimize the struggle to keep the settlement of Homesh8. There were no confrontations or violence from the marchers9. The equation that happened yesterday in dealing with the terrorists and the Arab terrorism against the fighters10, is stupid and unforgivable.”

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 20 December)

“(…) I expect that the new protocol11 is implemented in the field, and every stone thrower12 who puts lives13 in danger will know (…) you get a bullet in the head.”

Itamar Ben Gvir, Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Arutz 7, 16 December 2021)

 "When Defense Minister Gantz pursues a lax policy and Minister Omer Barlev slanders Israel in the world and shamelessly attacks the settlers14, the terrorists15 smell weakness, do not shy away and raise their heads. Barlev-Gantz's lax policy and a government that relies on the Muslim Brotherhood16 leads to terrorist attacks. The words of Omer Barlev led to the attack. Words can kill.”

II.  Against President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Leadership 

Orit Strook – Member of the Knesset for the Jewish Home party (Facebook, 13 December)

"Mohammed Shtayyeh, the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, was the first speaker today at the Knesset Land of Israel Caucus17  (…) the Palestinian Authority is leading a war against us, armed with resources, a war run from within the office of their Prime Minister, whose goal is: to occupy the land, to push Israel to withdraw from the territories of Judea and Samaria18, without an agreement. Not in areas where Israel chooses to withdraw from, but in areas of the PA's choosing.

Israel is not fighting this war. There are no corresponding steps taken by the Israeli Prime Minister's office. The cabinet does not discuss this war at all. The Minister of Security does not manage it at all. It's a one-sided war (…)”

Yomtov Kalfon – Member of Knesset for the Yemina party (Facebook19, 15 December)

“Palestinian terrorism is an operation that begins in the Palestinian Authority's schools and encourages the killing of Jews on a daily basis. Violence against Israelis is daily and its scale cannot be compared with the marginal phenomenon on the other side20.”

Regavim Organization21 (Facebook, 16 December 2021)

“The Israeli government is actively helping the enemy conquer territory that belongs to the State of Israel. Next Monday (December 20), the Civil Administration’s Higher Planning Council will convene to approve four plans submitted by the Palestinian Authority (…) The plans include thousands of units for Palestinians, and will retroactively legalize entire villages (built without permits) as part of the takeover of Area C (…) What we’re seeing is the State of Israel knowingly and directly aiding the Palestinian Authority’s plan to establish a de-facto terror state in Judea and Samaria!(…)”

III.  Against the Indigenous Palestinian Citizens of Israel

Miri Regev – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 6 December)

“It is a shame that the Electricity Bill22  was just passed in the Knesset. Legitimizing construction criminals23  in the Negev supports hooligans and criminals24, and proved to us that the one running the country is Mansour Abbas25. And all of it led by the Minister of Interior, Ayelet Shaked, who is wandering in the left and flirting with the right.”

Shlomo Karhi – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook26, 5 December)

“Since the formation of this anti-Zionist government, every citizen in Israel and every Jew feels that the Arabs27 in Israel are turning against us. From the riots during last May28, to the string of serious events against Jews across the country, not only in the south and in mixed cities29.”

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 15 December 2021)

“We need to send Mansour Abbas from the Islamic Movement to democracy studies, after he accused me of incitement for harm, and requested I stopped calling him a terrorist – The one who supports terrorism and funds it, and doesn’t condemn harming IDF soldiers and citizens, is truly a terrorist.”

Miri Regev – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 15 December)

“(…) The terrorism within is raising its head everywhere. Killings, robberies, sexual harassment, stone-throwing, and shootings in Be'er Sheva30, Al-Lydd31, and the Negev have become part of the routine.

Yesterday I visited the city of Be'er Sheva, meeting frightened citizens32 who complained about personal insecurity and lack of law enforcement.

Instead of fighting terrorism, this government legitimizes terrorist attacks33(…)”  

Benjamin Netanyahu - Head of the opposition and Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 20 December)

“(…)MK Mazen Ghnaim from the United Arab List, met today with Raed Salah34, who incites for the killing of Israelis. A government that relies on the Muslim Brotherhood is incapable of combating terrorism and keeping the citizens of Israel safe.”

Kathrin Shitrit – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 20 December)

“A member of the first Israeli-Palestinian government, Mazen Ghnaim35, in a visit with the outlawed terrorist36. All the shame of Bennett and Shaked in one photo.”

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party in a statement to the website "Srugim"37 (A religious Jewish website) (Twitter, 21 December)

“MK Itamar Ben Gvir calls for focused assassinations in Al-Ramla and Al-Lydd38 as retaliation to the wave of terrorism: "This event cannot be concluded without retaliation from the government. We need to bring back focused assassinations not only in Judea and Samaria, but also in Al-Ramla and Al-Lydd. The inciters39 must be killed".

Simcha Rothman – Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter40, 24 December)

“Budgets are allocated to them41 for the payment of terrorists’ salaries42 and taking control of Area C. After all, it makes sense in a government that relies on terrorist supporters43.”

• 1. In reference to Palestinian prisoner Hisham Abu Hawash who was on hunger strike for 141 days in protest of his administrative detention
• 2. Ibid
• 3. An Israeli right-wing Zionist organization
• 4. In reference to Karm Al-Ja’ouni part of Sheikh Jarrah in occupied Jerusalem, where Israel threatens over 70 Palestinian households with forced eviction and transfer to advance its colonial-settlement project in the neighborhood and move in more of its illegal settlers
• 5. In reference to Palestine’s Prisoners
• 6. In reference to the Israeli occupation forces
• 7. Smotrich’s response to a tweet by an illegal settler named ‘Berlale Crombie’ who accused the spokesperson of the Israeli occupation forces of spreading lies by accusing the settlers of committing violence
• 8. Is an illegal Israeli settlement evacuated as part of Israel’s so-called Gaza disengagement plan in 2005 which included the evacuation of four illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank (Homesh, Sanur’, Kaddim, Ganim). The "Homesh" settlement was built on privately owned Palestinian land confiscated from Burqa village in Nablus governorate. In 2007, the settlers returned, and since then attacks against Burqa villagers have escalated. In December 2021, many Israeli settlers' attacks against Palestinian villagers and properties were documented in this village.
• 9. In reference to Israel’s illegal settlers
• 10. In reference to the Israeli occupation forces. Smotrich criticizes the policy makers in the Israeli army for not dealing with an iron fist with the Palestinians thus endangering the Israeli soldiers’ lives
• 11. Ben Gvir responds to news by the Israeli channel “Kan” titled “ IDF changed open fire policy in the West Bank that will allow to shoot stone throwers even when they are running away.”
• 12. In reference to the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 13. In reference to Israel’s illegal settlers and occupation forces
• 14. Barlev came under a strong attack from the right wing parties when US under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, who was on a visit to the Middle East, told Barlev that the State Department is monitoring settlers’ violence, he then replied that Israel views such violence seriously and was acting to end this phenomenon: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-689830
• 15. In reference to the Palestinian people
• 16. In reference to the United Arab List- Raam party led by MK Mansour Abbas
• 17. The Knesset Land of Israel Caucus, also known as "Eretz Israel Caucus", is the largest lobby group within the Knesset led by Bezalel Smotrich (MK Religious Zionism party) whose goal is to strengthen Israel’s hold on the occupied West Bank. At the beginning of a recent meeting for the Caucus, they presented segments of an interview with PM Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh from 2019 in which he asserted that President Mahmoud Abbas formed a committee to strengthen the Palestinian steadfastness in area "C" of the occupied West Bank.
• 18. In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 19. The post was later deleted
• 20. In reference to Israel’s illegal settlers
• 21. A right-wing settler organization operating in the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 22. A bill proposed by United Arab List, Ra’am party, in August 2021 that would allow what Israel considers as "illegal houses" built by the Palestinian citizens of Israel, particularly in Al-Naqab, to be connected to the Israeli national power grid.
• 23. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of Israel in Al-Naqab whom Israel accesses of building without construction permits
• 24. Ibid
• 25. MK of the United Arab List party
• 26. The post was later deleted
• 27. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of Israel
• 28. In reference to Palestinian demonstrations against Israel’s aggression
• 29. Cities in Israel where both Jewish Israelis and Palestinian citizens of Israel live.
• 30. Be’er Sheva is the largest city in the Negev desert in southern Israel
• 31. A Palestinian city inside Israel
• 32. In reference to Jewish Israeli citizens
• 33. In reference to the Palestinian people.
• 34. Sheikh Raed Salah, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, the head of the Northern Islamic movement
• 35. MK of the United Arab List (Ra'am party)
• 36. See footnote 34
• 37. Srugim Jewish website tweeted an excerpt of an Interview with MK Ben Gvir
• 38. Palestinian cities inside Israel
• 39. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of Israel
• 40. The tweet was in response to a post by the Israeli Journalist Shilo Freid who re-tweeted news by Israeli Newspaper Makor Rishon claiming that "The Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection will transfer 26 million NIS to a series of Palestinian villages for garbage disposal.” See : https://twitter.com/MakorRishon/status/1473315447730806790 . The tweet was later deleted
• 41. In reference to the Palestinian villages in Area C of the occupied West Bank, which is an integral part of the State of Palestine
• 42. In reference to the Palestinian prisoners and martyrs
• 43. In reference to the MKs from the United Arab List- Raam party
• 44. In connection with the fight that MK Itamar Ben Gvir had with two Palestinian security guards in Tel Aviv. MK Ben Gvir pulled out his pistol and threatened the guards when they asked him to move his parked car that was in an illegal spot: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-689448/