Israeli Official Incitement: March 2021

Israeli Official Incitement : March 2021

Ahead of the Israeli parliamentary (Knesset) elections, held on 23 March 20211, senior Israeli officials, including members of the Knesset, right-wing Zionist parties, and settlers' organizations, have continued inciting against the Palestinian people and their leadership, the Palestinian citizens of Israel, mainly parliament members, and against the International Criminal Court in the Hague. This report highlights the official Israeli racism and hate speech and examples of statements endorsing colonization and annexation schemes against the land and people of Palestine.

I. Palestinian Prisoners, Martyrs, and their Families

Itamar Ben Gvir –Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party  (Facebook, 04 March)

“(…) how did we get to a situation where a soldier is afraid of shooting those who steal his weapon? We shall stop this. We will change the firing protocols so that the soldiers are not afraid of killing terrorists2”

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 03 March)

“(…)It is time to put an end to terror and start making them pay the price - death penalty for terrorists3!”

 II. Against the International Criminal Court in The Hague

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 03 March)

“Once again a decision for politicians in suits4. No anti-Semitic decision will be able to severe the Jewish and historical relationship of the people of Israel with their land in all parts of Israel, in Judea and Samaria5 in particular.

God willing, after the elections, we will form a real government that will continue to settle the Jews in Judea and Samaria6, as they have done for thousands of years. Despite Israel haters, we will legalize the small settlements and impose our influence, and this will not be prevented by any anti-Semitic investigation7.”

Matan Kahana – Member of the Knesset for Yemina party (Twitter, 03 March)

“The anti-Semitic decision of the International Criminal Court in The Hague will not change the fact that our army is the most moral army in the world. In The Hague, they will continue to work against democratic countries and ignore the crimes against humanity committed by dictatorial countries. The people of Israel have always triumphed over anti-Semitism. We shall triumph against this masked one as well.”

Gideon Sa'ar – Member of the Knesset, chairman of New Hope party (Facebook, 03 March)

“The decision of the International Criminal Court in The Hague - is disgraceful. The decision to open an investigation against the most moral army in the world belonging to the most threatened country in the world is an ethically distorted decision(...)”

Avi Dichter – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 05 March)

“There is no hope for the defamers of Israel!

The Attorney General of the court in The Hague does not care about the 700 thousand dead in Syria who were slaughtered by the government, including the use of gas as well as the student demonstrations in Iran, where tens of thousands were killed and arrested, and we know nothing of what happened to them, this did not attract the attention of the Attorney General.

Only Israel, the nation-state of the Jewish people, worries the Prosecutor.

The Palestinian Authority, where human rights are equal to the rights of dogs, and its support for terrorism through allowances for terrorists8, is not a reason for investigation, rather the opposite - they received the authority to file a claim against Israel(…)”

Ofir Sofer – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 03 March)

“The court's decision is an anti-Semitic political decision. The only war crimes committed in Judea, Samaria9 and Gaza are at the hands of the terrorists of Hamas and various terrorist organizations, with the support of the Palestinian Authority, which supports them and their families.

The decision attempts to erase the historical relationship between the Jewish people and their land - which will fail even if it is in the form of intimidation in the form of an international investigation.” 

III. Against the Indigenous Palestinian Citizens of Israel 

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 25 March)

“The government will not be formed with the help of the Islamic Movement and Mansour Abbas10. Period. Neither from within the government, nor from outside of it, not even through abstinence nor any other lie.  Terrorism supporters11 that undermine the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish state are not legitimate partners in any government(…)”

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 17 March)

“Yousef12, what I meant was that Mansour Abbas13 and other Jihad and terrorism supporters14 have a fundamentalist violent and distorted interpretation of Islam.  There are millions of Muslims around the world sharing my views, who are suffering under the regime of terrorist supporters like Mansour Abbas and other Arab MKs.”

Shlomo Karhi – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 16 March)

“The terrorist supporter member of Knesset15 speaks of the murdered Israeli citizens16.

I wonder who killed them? Who is truly trying to rectify the situation? Who opposed opening police stations?17 (...)”

Itamar Ben Gvir –Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 15 March)

“Mansour Abbas18 is the same as Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar19, and other enemies of Israel. We will not rely on him, and we will not ally with him. In the moment of truth - We were the only ones who demanded to prevent him from running the elections.”  

 

Lach Yerushalaym20 Settlers Organization (Facebook, 05 March)

“Jerusalem.  Umm Al-Fahem.  For those who ask why we will need a fourth lockdown...

(Regarding the national problem of the Israeli Arabs, we will talk about it after the Corona)”

 IV. Against the Palestinian People and Leadership

Nir Barkat- Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 25 March)

“The Palestinian Authority plans to control open areas in Judea and Samaria21 as well as essential access routes for the settlements, with the help of European funding. We can't allow this. We must restore our control and influence, preserve the land and exert influence.”

Regavim22 Settlers’ Organization (Twitter, 22 March)

“Netanyahu: stop the regulation of Khan al-Ahmar23!

It was published today on Yedioth Ahronoth24 that the Civil Administration has offered the residents of Khan al-Ahmar a settlement to relocate them only 200 meters from their current location, on the other side of the road between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.

We demand PM Netanyahu to prevent the suggestion from the Civil Administration, a settlement which represent a serious concession to the PA agents in this strategic area. 

Meir Deutsch, director general of Regavim: "Khan al-Ahmar is located in a very strategic area where the Palestinian Authority is trying to build a geographical extension that connects Bethlehem, Jericho and Ramallah. A permanent relocation to the other side of the road is an endorsement to the Palestinian Authority’s control plan, and a real victory for them.”

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 15 March)

“(…) I strongly criticized him25 for his leniency in everything related to southern Tel Aviv26 , the Galilee and the Negev, for not fulfilling his promises to impose sovereignty and approve construction, for the Land of Israel that is stolen from us due to unrightful Palestinian construction.

We demand a true right wing policy. We demand the expansion of the settlements, intensive construction in Judea and Samaria27, truly fight the Palestinian Authority in Area C, and against the Bedouin and Arab crime gangs in the Negev and the Galilee, while maintaining the safety of our brothers in south Tel Aviv(…)”

Orit Strouk – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 03 March)

“(…)The State of Israel must start making the leaders of the Palestinian Authority pay a heavy and painful price in response to the case that the PA presented to the court in The Hague.

There are enough ways to do that:

It is inconceivable that at a time when army officers are afraid to travel to certain countries - Abu Mazen and members of his flock visit these countries as very important personalities.

It is inconceivable that Israel will continue to "promote Abu Mazen" while he is doing everything in his power to weaken us.

It is inconceivable that we continue to preserve the restrictions of the Oslo Accords, while Abu Mazen violates the simplest laws of those agreements: the law that prohibits unilateral steps in the international arena.28

In general, we cannot continue to point the finger of accusation only at anti-Semites overseas29, and forget the hand that moves them - the hand of the "partner" Abu Mazen(…)”

Tzachi Hanegbi - Minister of Settlement Affairs, Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 09 March)

“The head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council30, Shlomo Ne'eman, welcomed me for a comprehensive tour of his lovely town. We will work together to promote the settlements, preserving the life quality of the settlers, and deter the Palestinian Authority's illegal control of state land31 (...)”

Matan Kahana – Member of the Knesset for Yemina party (Facebook, 16 March)

“The scenes on the way to Rujm an Naqah32 are the most beautiful of the land of Israel. It is regrettable that along the road there are hundreds of beginnings of illegal Palestinian structures. No rule. We are losing our nations lands33. We will rectify this.”

Matan Peleg - General Director of Im Tirtzu34 Settlers’ Organization (Twitter, 07 March)

“The Palestinian Authority condemned Im Tirtzu for inciting against them.  And in this case the PLO... You can "bite us". A corrupt terrorist organization that oppresses and kills, and brought nothing to the world other than evil - it has no right to exist nor its activists.”

Im Tirtzu Settlers’ Organization (Twitter, 14 March)

“(…) we also ask the prime minister not to deal in fear with the Palestinian Authority, and to display the courage he does against the Iranians when dealing with the PA. The Palestinian Authority is an enemy, not a partner. These silence payments35 are neither appropriate nor acceptable. There is a law36, and it must be respected. And the law says the terrorist payments37 must be deducted.”

V. Additional Examples

Danny Danon – Former Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Chairman of World Likud (Twitter, 24 March)

“The @UN_HRC is once again proving its bias, hypocrisy and anti-Semitic resolutions. Item 7 doesn’t serve the Palestinians. Its sole aim is to negate #Israel through diplomatic terrorism. I urge member states to say no to this divisive and hateful item. #HRC46”

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 08 March).

“(...) The Arab control of Area C funded by the European Union and the military rule of the Civil Administration is a disgrace to the State of Israel. Dismantling the Civil Administration and ending the insane control38 of Area C is a patriotic mission (...)”

Ad Kan Organization39 (Twitter, 24 March)

“Behind the scenes and without the knowledge of the State of Israel, the European Union's plan of the century for the Middle East was revealed before us. The European Union and the United Nations have allocated 3 billion euros for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the establishment of a new capital city in Jerusalem.”

Bezalel Smotrich– Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 18 March)

“There is a religion, unfortunately, of violence, terrorism, and Jihad, this is the opinion that Mansour Abbas represents40.”

 

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 08 March)

“How did we reach a situation where soldiers are too scared to open fire in order to defend themselves, and how are we going to solve it? Come with us:

In recent years, we are witnessing a severe decline in the intervention by military jurists, and here we are, in a situation where the guns of our soldiers are for decorations.

According to the jurists, a soldier must not fire at a terrorist throwing rocks41. Each week we witness hundreds of Arabs throwing rocks and stones on soldiers who are forced to return fire with tear gas. Every few months, a soldier takes a risk and shoots rock throwers, and they always end up arrested.

No rocks, but what about Molotov Cocktails? You will be surprised to hear that a soldier may shoot a terrorist who throws a Molotov cocktail, only at the moment he throws the Molotov cocktail. He is not allowed to shoot before the throw, or after. The soldier must wait until the terrorist lights the cocktail, comes closer to the soldier, and only then he is allowed to shoot the terrorist (…)”

I plan on promoting an immunity law for IDF soldiers, who fired their guns during active duty, during any stage of a terrorist attack, or theft from military bases. Before the rock throwing, following the Molotov Cocktails, or during a break-in into ammunition storage. With the immunity law, our soldier will again have deterring power, without fear of arrests and investigations (…)”

Lach Yerushalaym Settlers’ organization (Facebook, 10 March)

“In the face of incitement and terrorism, our response must be decisive.

After we uncovered the abominable incitement at the refugee school in East Jerusalem, Education Minister Galant filed a complaint with the police and demanded they investigate the school administration. The "Lach Yerushalaym" tribute, which unveiled the incitement at the refugee school in East Jerusalem, was congratulated by Minister Galant for their hard work. Meir Tsur, General Director of the "Lach Yerushalaym" organization, is demanding the formation of a monitoring committee for all schools in East Jerusalem and closing down all inciting schools.”

Im Tirtzu Settlers’ Organization (Twitter, 04 March)

“Who worked to prevent the Cave of the Patriarchs42 from being accessible to people with special needs? A leftist organization which is supported by the New Israeli Fund43!

The leftist organization Emek Shaveh44, which is supported by the New Israel Fund, in cooperation with the Hebron municipality, headed by the terrorist Tayseer Abu Sneina, who participated in an operation that killed 6 Israeli students from Jewish schools, submitted a petition to the court.”

• 1. The 24th Knesset was sworn in on 6 April 2021. Elections results available at https://www.jpost.com/israel-elections
• 2. In reference to Palestinians
• 3. In reference to Palestinian prisoners
• 4. In reference to the judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
• 5. In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 6. Ibid
• 7. In reference to the ICC investigation into Israeli crimes
• 8. In reference to the Palestinian prisoners and martyrs
• 9. In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 10. Member of the Knesset for the Southern Islamic movement party (Ra’am)
• 11. In reference to the Palestinian members of the Knesset
• 12. Yousef Haddad is a Palestinian citizen of Israel and an activist for coexistence between Palestinians (Muslims and Christians) and Israeli Jews. Haddad demanded Bezalel Smotrich in a tweet to apologize to all Muslims for inciting against Islam and calling it ‘religion of terror’. Haddad gave an example of a Palestinian doctor, Maher Ibrahim, working at an Israeli hospital in the Corona department, who read a prayer with a Jewish patient as he was on verge of death
• 13. Member of the Knesset for the Southern Islamic movement party (Ra’am)
• 14. In reference to Joint List party
• 15. In reference to Sondos Saleh , member of the Joint List party
• 16. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of Israel killed as a result of the spread of violence and crime within the Palestinian society in Israel
• 17. In reference to the Joint List members who opposed opening police stations in the Palestinian towns in Israel since Israeli police in many cases are contributing to violence
• 18. Knesset member of the Southern Islamic movement party (Ra’am)
• 19. Ismail Haniyeh is head of Hamas politburo, while Yahya Sinwar is the current leader of Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip
• 20. An Israeli settlers organization promoting the Judaization of Jerusalem
• 21. In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 22. A right-wing settlers’ organization operating in the occupied West Bank
• 23. Khan al-Ahmar is a Palestinian Bedouin village located in Jerusalem Governorate that is facing the threat of forced eviction by Israeli occupation authorities to expand the so-called E1 settlement plan
• 24. Israeli newspaper
• 25. In reference to the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
• 26. A city inside Israel
• 27. In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 28. There is no article under the Oslo agreement forbidding Palestinians from exercising their right in international organization
• 29. In reference to ICC judges
• 30. Gush Etzion is a cluster of illegal Israeli settlements located south of Bethlehem in the occupied West bank
• 31. In reference to Area C
• 32. A Palestinian grazing area located 5km south of Al-Rashaydeh village in Bethlehem Governorate
• 33. In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 34. An Israeli right-wing Zionist organization
• 35. In reference to tax revenues which Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian National Authority
• 36. In 2018, the Knesset passed a bill to deduct the amount of allowances paid by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to Palestinian prisoners and martyrs families from the tax revenues that Israel collects on behalf of PNA
• 37. In reference to allowances paid by the PNA to Palestinian prisoners and martyrs families
• 38. Claiming that Area C belongs to the State of Israel and that Palestinians have no night to build in that area which is an integral part of the occupied West Bank
• 39. Right wing Israeli organization that aims to fight Israeli human rights organizations
• 40. MK Bezalel Smotrich in an interview with i24 news channel described the religion of Islam as a terror and violent religion
• 41. In reference to the Palestinian people
• 42. In reference to Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron
• 43. The New Israel Fund is a U.S. based non-profit organization describing its objective as " social justice and equality for all Israelis". For more information: https://www.nif.org/
• 44. Emek Shaveh is an Israeli NGO working to defend cultural heritage rights of all communities, faiths, and people. The organization has submitted a petition to an Israeli court against the construction of an elevator at Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to serve the illegal settlers. The elevator project was greenlighted last year by Naftali Bennett, a pro-settlers MK chairing the Yemina party