Israeli Official Incitement: June 2024
Israeli Official Incitement: June 2024
I. Against the Palestinian people/endorsing genocide and the forced transfer of Palestinians from Gaza
Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security and MK for Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) Party called in a video for executing Palestinian Prisoners (Middle East Monitor, 30 June 2024)
“Prisoners should be shot in the head instead of being given more food. It is unfortunate that I have had to deal in recent days with whether Palestinian prisoners should receive fruit baskets. They should be killed with a shot to the head, and the bill to execute Palestinian prisoners must be passed in the third reading in the Knesset. Until then, we will give them minimal food to survive. I do not care about this.”
Tally Gotliv, MK for Likud Party (Twitter, 22 June 2024)
“Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army, aren't you tired of compromising the dignity of our soldiers in front of the enemies[1]? So, they drove with a terrorist strapped to the hood of the engine[2]. What about it? Personally, I have no problem with that. Just remember what those damned terrorists did to our innocent men and women[3]. ‘Eye for an eye’[4] is not a slur, and it completely deter terrorists. If it doesn't suit you, find another way to send the message without compromising the dignity of our brave fighters[5] who understand the enemy's language better than you."
Limor Sonn Har Melech, MK for Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) Party (Twitter, 19 June 2024)[6]
“The spirit of heroism and victory. I launched the parliamentary lobby to renew Jewish settlement in the Gaza area with Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot under the slogan ‘No security without settlement’.
The meeting was attended by ministers, Knesset members, public officials, lawyers, and private citizens who are active in the field.
It is gratifying to see how the shades of Israeli society as a whole come together in the demand for massive and continuous Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, with the understanding that this is what will bring security to the citizens of the Envelope and create a real deterrent to the enemy.
Precisely now, while our heroic soldiers are fighting fiercely to defeat the Nazi terrorists[7] and return the hostages home, we must ensure that the Jewish settlement project returns proudly and without shame.
This is about correcting a historical and security injustice that occurred to our people during the damned deportation plan[8] and even before that, when the territories on the northern border were handed over in exchange for an ‘agreement’. Today, when everyone sees that the ceasefire agreements are not being fulfilled, it is appropriate for the State of Israel to demand our lands back. We have no time to waste to prove in the future how right we were.”
Moshe Saada, MK for Likud Party (Twitter, 18 June 2024)
“Simcha Rothman[9], I heard you claim that I remained silent regarding leniency in dealing with Rafah and that I am silent regarding the Rabbis' law[10] and that I'm making a mess. So let me clarify some things for you:
I am glad that this bad law is off the agenda.
I was one of the first supporters of storming Rafah. I spoke about the need for it everywhere and with all factors, pressured with my tools to promote it as I have been doing since the beginning of the war, without entering into personal political considerations, unlike others."
Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, Chairman of Religious Zionism Party (Twitter, 18 June 2024)[11]
“No, Mr. Minister of Defense, in response to the Iranian efforts to spread weapons in Jenin, you really should not increase the Alert Squads, and I write this as the minister who, on his own initiative, funded the security components in the towns you are referring to. In response to the Iranian and Palestinian efforts, you must strike and fight forcefully, cut off terrorism, and kill its perpetrators, without waiting for it to reach home and meet the Alert Squads.”
Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security, MK for Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) (Twitter, 16 June 2024) [12]
“Whoever made the decision for a "tactical ceasefire" for humanitarian purposes, especially when many of our soldiers are falling in battle, is evil and foolish and should not remain in their position. Unfortunately, this decision was not presented to the Cabinet and contradicts its decisions. It is time to break free from the prevailing conception and stop the insane and delusional approach that only brings us more casualties.”
Tzvi Yedida Sukkot, MK for Religious Zionism Party (Twitter, 13 June 2024) [13]
“There is something very unclear regarding the entry of Palestinian workers from Judea and Samaria[14]. How do we ensure that terrorists aren't coming in? Who determines the procedures? Who is in charge of enforcing them? Who can or can't approve the entry of workers to towns? And most importantly, how do we ensure that they are not planning the next 7.10? (…)”
Tally Gotliv, MK for Likud Party (Twitter, 6 June 2024)[15]
“This is not how to win! Terrorists who hid inside a school were eliminated with precision weapons. The IDF leadership continues to forget the enemy's language!
A school where murderous terrorists hide and establish a command room must be dismantled and flattened with non-precision weapons. Only this way can we win! And why would Hamas agree to a hostage release deal when the IDF[16] leadership is busy with taking the enemy into consideration all the time??”
II. Against President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Leadership
Israel Katz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, MK for Likud Party (Twitter, 18 June 2024)
"7% of the Palestinian Authority's budget goes to murderers of Israelis. More killings = more money. The Palestinian Authority cannot rule Gaza.”
Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, Member of Religious Zionism Party (Times of Israel, 13 June 2024)
“The Palestinian Authority encourages and favors terrorism by paying the families of terrorists, prisoners and released prisoners. In accordance with the judgments that awarded compensation to the victims of terrorism, we offset the same amounts from the PA’s funds and are transferring the awarded money to the families of the victims of terrorism. At this time, I signed an order that transfers about NIS 130 million from the PA’s frozen funds to victims of terrorism.”
Israel Katz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, MK for Likud Party (Twitter, 13 June 2024)
“The Palestinian Authority cannot rule Gaza.”
Dan Illouz, Member of Knesset for Likud Party (Twitter, 6 June 2024)[17]
“If the funds haven't been transferred yet - I will do everything to ensure they are not transferred.”
III. Against the Indigenous Palestinian Citizens of Israel
Tally Gotliv, MK for Likud Party (Twitter, 13 June 2024)
“What judge in Israel is capable of ordering the release of the body of vicious murdering terrorist, Walid Daqqa[18] (…) The state is making it clear that the body of a terrorist is a bargaining tool in the context of the hostages, so what…This is not a good enough reason to keep his body apparently. Hours are wasted on this discussion instead of throwing the petition out.”
Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, Chairman of Religious Zionism Party (Maariv, 10 June 2024)[19]
"The bodies[20] should be put in a cart and dragged in the center of the town. (…)I don't understand, who has the right to release bodies? Where was that decided? No body of an Israeli-Arab should be released."[21]
Tally Gotliv, MK for Likud Party (Twitter, 10 June 2024)
“For the information of Shas[22] voters, Moshe Arbel[23], a minister on your behalf, met with the biggest terrorism supporter, Ayman Odeh[24], who calls IDF soldiers murderers, who says that we sent our soldiers to commit a genocide in Gaza, also the friend of Jibril Rajoub[25], and of the killer al-Arouri[26], who has been eliminated in the meantime. I asked Arbel how he meets with a terrorist supporter. ‘I don’t boycut any MK’ he answered. With all due respect, Shas voters are mostly right-wing people, and definetly people who worry for the reputation of our soliders. To take a photo with Ayman Odeh in a mosque[27] in Haifa to examine the restoration of the place is like sticking a finger in the eye of IDF soldiers(…)”
Avigdor Lieberman, Member of Knesset for Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel our Home) Party (Twitter, 5 June 2024)
“The horrific display[28] organized by supporters of terrorism from the Hadash cell[29] at Tel Aviv University is serious incitement against the State of Israel and against our heroic soldiers who are currently fighting on the battlefield.
I urge the university heads to expel the students who support terrorism, and to immediately revoke their scholarships and privileges.
The place for supporters of terrorism from the Hadash cell is not at Tel Aviv University, but in Gaza or Ramallah.”
VI. Against the UN
Gilad Erdan, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations (Twitter, 13 June 2024)
“The Secretary General's[30] decision to include the IDF, the moral army in the world, along with terrorist organizations in a "blacklist" of organizations that harm children, is a despicable decision by a Secretary-General who hates Israel, who serves dictators and murderers and will be remembered as a failed Secretary-General, who degraded the UN to an all-time low.
The distorted report presented today will only cause more harm to children around the world, as it gives an incentive to terrorists to use children and youth for terrorism purposes and to hide behind them by using schools and hospitals.
The Secretary General ignores the unimaginable reality the IDF faces and bases it on false data from a Nazi terrorist organization.
No report and no Secretary General's decision will prevent Israel from protecting its citizens. I am once again calling on the Secretary General to resign today. His anti-Semitic decision will be thrown into the trashcan of history!”
Avigdor Lieberman, MK for Yisrael Beitenu (Israel Our Home) Party (Twitter, 9 June 2024)[31]
“The hostages were cruely held by doctors, UNRWA employees and Al-Jazeera employees. So enough with the fables of non-involved.”
Gilad Erdan, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations (Twitter, 7 June 2024)[32]
“I received the official message about the UN Secretary General's intention to include the IDF on the blacklist of countries that harm children. I responded harshly to the decision, and I said that our army is the most moral in the world and the one that goes on this list is the Secretary General, who encourages terrorism and hatred towards Israel.”
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, MK for Likud Party (Twitter, 7 June 2024)
“Today, The United Nations added itself to the blacklist of history by deciding to join the supporters of Hamas murderers. The IDF is the most moral army in the world, and no delusional decision by the UN can change that.”
V. Additional Examples
Shlomo Karhi, Minister of Communications, MK for Likud Party )Facebook, 13 June 2024) [33]
“Al-Jazeera is the terrorist channel of Hamas. For absurd legal reasons we are forced to re-approve its closure in Israel every 45 days.[34] We will continue to do whatever it takes to clean the field of terrorism and incitement.
Perhaps after he has finished making rounds on all of us, the Minister of Defense will finally have time and will be kind enough to order the Central Command's General to shut them down in Judea and Samaria as well, something that inexplicably has not yet happened.”
Amichai Chikli, Minister of Diaspora, Member of Likud Party (Twitter, 6 June 2024)[35]
“A few important points regarding the "shock" of retired ambassador Michael Oren[36] (…) Michael is not a new immigrant and, as an ambassador, was certainly exposed to the Israel-haters in organizations like "Breaking the Silence"[37] and their lies and slander tactics against IDF soldiers. Oren's choice to quickly adopt and repeat the lies of the former spokesperson of "Breaking the Silence" is reckless, irresponsible, and in itself damages the State of Israel more than the article itself.”
Zeev Elkin, MK for New Hope - The United Right Party (Twitter, 6 June 2024)[38]
“Yesterday, especially symbolic on Jerusalem Day, we succeeded in promoting a bill that will prevent foreign countries from establishing consulates for the Palestinians in Jerusalem. In doing so, we will continue to build an ‘iron wall’ against attempts to undermine Israeli sovereignty over unified Jerusalem.”
Israel Katz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, MK for Likud Party (Twitter, 5 June 2024)
“Jerusalem Day[39]. 57 years since the liberation of Jerusalem and the Old City. I still remember that great feeling when I was a child. When the paratroopers liberated the Western Wall and the sound of the trumpets calling out - the Temple Mount[40] is in our hands.
Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people since the days of King David, the complete and unified Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, under Israeli sovereignty - now and forever.”
Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security, MK for Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) (Twitter, 5 June 2024)
"On this happy yet complex day, we are sending a message to Hamas from here. Jerusalem is ours. Damascus Gate is ours. The Temple Mount is ours. And with God's will, the complete victory is ours. We urge the Prime Minister to be strong. We do not surrender. We do not concede. We will not stop. We will triumph! Happy Jerusalem Day. The people of Israel shall live."
[1] Referring to Palestinians
[2] Referring to an event in which Israeli occupation soldiers tied an injured Palestinian man to the hood of the engine, and drove through the streets of Jenin. Gotliv criticized the occupation army for speaking against this action as being ‘not consistent with its directives’
[3] Israeli allegations that were debunked by Israeli and international media investigations/ reports.
[4] Is a commandment found in the bible the Book of Exodus 21:23–27 expressing the principle of reciprocal justice measure for measure.
[5] Referring to Israeli occupation forces (IOF)
[6] MK Limor Son Har-Melech, of Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party, and MK Zvi Sukkot OF Religious Zionism Party announce formation of Knesset caucus to push resettlement of Gaza
[7] Referring to Hamas Islamic Movement
[8] Referring to the Disengagement plan. In 2005, 21 illegal Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the West Bank were unilaterally dismantled.
[9] Referring to MK Simcha Rothman from the Religious Zionism party.
[10] The rabbi bill transfers the power to appoint municipal rabbis from local authorities to the government was frozen for now.
[11] In response to an article on Channel 7's website titled: "Gallant in the North of Samaria: in response to the Iranian effort to bring in weapons to the area of Jenin, we are increasing the Alert Squads"
[12] Referring to news that the Israeli army to allow for daily "tactical ceasefire" to allow humanitarian aid. See related article.
[13] Referring to Palestinian workers from the occupied West Bank, who were prevented from entering Israel after October 7th, 2023.See related article.
[14] The biblical name Israel uses to refer to the occupied West Bank.
[15] On 6 June, IOF fired two missiles at Al-Sardi, an UNRWA school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza killing at least 45 Palestinians.
[16] Stands for Israel Defense Forces, the name Israel uses to refer to its forces, while the Palestinians use IOF, which stands for Israeli Occupation Forces.
[17] The post is in response to an article on Globes website titled: "Is the Palestinian Authority paying salaries to Nuchba terrorists? The Palestinian Authority wants to pay salaries to October 7th terrorists, but the money was not transferred yet"
[18] Referring to the body of Palestinian prisoner, Walid Daqqa, a Palestinian citizen of Israel. During his 39 years in Israeli prisons, Daqqa became a leading figure in the Palestinian Prisoners' Movement. Daqqa, a cancer patient, was martyred in Israeli prisons due to Israel's policy of medical crimes, which included denying him the fundamental medical treatment he needed. He passed away on 7 April 2024 and his body is still being held by occupation authorities.
[19] The article addresses statements by Minister Smotrich during a meeting of the Political-Security cabinet.
[20] Referring to Palestinian Prisoners
[21] See footnote 19
[22] Shas is a Haredi religious political party in Israel.
[23] MK for Shas
[24] Referring to MK Ayman Odeh from the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, which represents Palestinian Arab citizens in Israel.
[25] Member of FATAH Central Committee and is the president of the Palestinian Football Association
[26] Saleh Muhammad Sulayman al-Arouri was a senior leader of Hamas Islamic Movement and a founding commander of its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
[29] Ibid
[30] Referring to António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
[31] The post is in response to a title on "Israel Hayom" website: "Arab Reporting: Noa Argamani was held in the house of Al-Jazeera photographer"
[32] Referring to the UN decision to include the Israeli occupation forces and Israel in the list of countries and organizations that harm children. See article.
[33] The post is in response to an article titled: "The warrants against Al-Jazeera were extended: "Hamas views it as its own channel"
[34] Referring to the bill banning the operation of Al-Jazeera network within Israeli territory. See article.
[35] Responding to a tweet by former Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Oren, regarding a New York Times report claiming that Minister Amichai Chikli allocated millions of dollars to fund fake campaigns to influence Congress and several of its members.
[36] Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States
[37] Breaking the Silence is an organization of veteran soldiers who have served in the Israeli military since the start of the Second Intifada and have taken it upon themselves to expose the public to the reality of everyday life in the Occupied Territories.
[38] In response to an article on Ynet titled: "The Knesset is promoting: Foreign countries will not be able to open representations in East Jerusalem."
[39] Referring to the day Israel occupied East Jerusalem in the June 1967 war.
[40] Referring to Al Haram Al Sharif, the 144-dunum Holy Basin, which includes Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.