Israeli Official Incitement: March 2023
Israeli Official Incitement: March 2023
I. Against the Palestinian People
Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism Party (Times of Israel, 1 March)
“Because I think the village of Huwara[1] needs to be wiped out. I think the State of Israel should do it.”
Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, and Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism Party, in a speech in France, denies the existence of Palestinians (Twitter, 20 March)
“There is no such thing as a Palestinian, there is no such thing as a Palestinian people. Do you know who is a Palestinian? I am Palestinian. My late grandfather, who was 13 generation Jerusalemite, is a true Palestinian. The Palestinian people is an invention that is less than 100 years old. According to international law, there are five characteristics that define a people’s history, culture, language, currency, and a king or historical leadership. I ask you all, who was the first Palestinian king? What language do the Palestinians have? Has there ever been a Palestinian currency? Is there Palestinian history or culture? No, there is not. There is no such thing as a Palestinian people.”
Tzvi Yedidia Sukkot, Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 3 March)
“I showed the extreme leftists[2], who came to hug the residents of Huwara, pictures of those murdered and injured[3] recently in the village, only because they are Jewish (…)”
In the same post, MK Sukkot also appears in a video verbally attacking Israeli peace activists and Palestinians: “(…) a village supporting and funding terrorism (…) we will continue to drive on this street, we will remain here, you can throw stones and support terror we will remain here.”
Tzvi Yedidia Sukkot, Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 26 March)
“I just marched along the Huwara axis with Israeli flags. Let Israel's enemies[4] know that we will be here a million times over and no one will leave despite the terrorism and intimidation.
We demand:
* Placing life-saving barriers
* The closure of trade in the village for a long period
* Transition from defense to attack and a broad operation to collect weapons and arrest terrorists and instigators in the area.”
Orit Malka Strock, Minister of National Missions, Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism Party (Twitter, 19 March)
“Huwara should not be burned down. What should happen? Position roadblocks before an attack and not just after. Reduce the Palestinian traffic on that road (…) stop trade along the axis where the crowds provide shelter for terrorists. Search every house there for weapons. As the first plan. And, of course, renew the settlement in Evyatar[5] immediately.”
Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism Party (Twitter, 25 March)
“(…) we must not allow Huwara, a central axis through which thousands of Jews pass every day, to become an outpost of terrorism. When we are under fire, we must act and take significant steps, and we will stand for it (…)”
Benjamin Gantz, Member of Knesset for the National Unity party (Twitter, 7 March)
“I congratulate the Yamam, Shin Bet and IDF [6] forces who operated today in Jenin and eliminated the terrorist[7] (…) every terrorist should know that he will end up - either in prison or in the grave. This equation was and will remain true.”
Limor Sonn Har Melech, Member of Knesset for the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party (Twitter, 9 March)
“The terrorist squad that was eliminated this morning[8] once again illustrates the dangerous situation created in northern Samaria[9] after the eviction of the four settlements[10], where terrorist organizations[11] can easily gain strength and run a sort of independent terrorist state that sends arms of destruction and blood to the rest of the state’s territory. The time has come to return home and restore full Israeli control to northern Samaria.”
Oded Forer, Member of Knesset for the Yisrael Beitenu (Israel Our Home) party (Twitter, 11 March) [12]
“Attack after attack, and Netanyahu bows to terrorism. Instead of acting decisively to regulate the Evyatar settlement and evict the illegal Palestinian hold on Khan al-Ahmar[13], Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, and Smotrich choose to surrender. History proves that every time you show weakness in the face of terrorism, it only increases, and this government is weak.”
Galit Distel Atbaryan, Minister of Information, Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 14 March)
“Are Palestinian terrorists brainwashed since childhood to murder Jews? Watch: Recently I dared call Palestinian terrorists brainwashed murderers who are programmed to seek Jewish blood since age zero (…)”
Avigdor Lieberman, Member of Knesset for the Yisrael Beitenu (Israel Our Home) party (Twitter, 23 March)
“ Shameful surrender of the prison service’s management to the terrorists[14] imprisoned in prisons in Israel. Instead of acting with a hard hand against terrorists, the government decided to reinstate all benefits to them - the only thing that matters is silence at any cost.[15]”
Danny Danon, Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 15 March)
“I suggest that terrorist organizations[16] not test us or interpret the disagreement between us[17] as weakness. The series of terrorist events force us to react decisively and exact a painful price from those who try to challenge us at this time. Israel is stronger today than ever.”
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 19 March)
“Our forcers work around the clock to settle scores with terrorists and to eliminate terrorism infrastructures. Dozens of terrorists[18] were eliminated in the past month, many others were arrested. I repeat and say: anyone who tries to hurt citizens of Israel – they will be responsible for their own demise. We reach terrorists and terrorism architects anywhere.”
Regavim Organization[19] (Twitter, 19 March)
“To give up on the legal reform[20] is to give up on security! The High Court consistently dissolved one of Israel's main tools for the fight against terrorism! Since the ruling in 1989, according to which the terrorists' families must be notified before the demolition so that they can submit a petition, and until 2022 - the demolition of a terrorist[21] house takes about 3 months!”
II. Against President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Leadership
Avigdor Lieberman, Member of Knesset for the Yisrael Beitenu (Israel Our Home) party (Twitter, 13 March)[22]
“This government is surrendering to terrorism. Bibi pledged to transfer NIS 200 million to the Palestinian Authority from the tax revenue of the Allenby Bridge[23]. For a year and a half, I was Minister of Finance and under pressure from Lapid[24], as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, I said that I would not pay one dime of those taxes.”
Gilad Erdan, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations (Twitter, 23 March)
“Yesterday at the Security Council's special discussion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I attacked the Palestinian representative for the fact that while the Palestinian leadership regularly incites terrorism and tries to rewrite the facts by erasing Jewish history, he still dares to condemn the words of an Israeli minister, who apologized and explained what he meant[25]. Shame on you!”
Avigdor Lieberman, Member of Knesset for the Yisrael Beitenu (Israel Our Home) party (Twitter, 23 March)
“Israel will transfer to Abu Mazen [26] around 120 million shekels at the expense of revenues from the Allenby crossing. In practice, the money is to compensate for the deductions that Israel makes for the funding of terrorists and terrorists’ families by the Palestinian Authority.”[27]
Gilad Erdan, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations (Twitter, 23 March)
“I am about to give a speech in a special discussion in the Security Council on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I will strongly criticize the council that allows the Palestinians to abuse UN bodies while Iran, the real threat to the security of the Middle East, races to produce nuclear weapons. Watch my speech now:”
Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security, Member of Knesset for the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party (Twitter, 20 March)
“With a warrant I signed, we closed "Palestine Station"[28] today. A hostile media channel that broadcasts incitement on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. The place of this channel is in Syria, not in the Land of Israel.”
III. Against the Indigenous Palestinian Citizens of Israel
Ariel Kallner, Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Instagram, 22 March)
“The bill to revoke benefits from terrorists and their families[29], who are supported by the Palestinian Authority for murder, which I passed today in the first vote, repairs a great distortion and wrongdoing, and limits the financial incentives for vile terrorists(…)”
Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security, Member of Knesset for the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party (Twitter, 8 March)
“Today, fighters of the Yoav police unit demolished an illegal building near Hora [30] in the Negev. The days when the Negev was the backyard of the State of Israel are over. No more cosmetic actions of demolishing tin containers for PR purposes. No more silent consent to a hostile takeover of state lands. We are moving from a policy of inclusion, to a policy of determined action.”
Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security, Member of Knesset for the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party (Twitter, 28 March)
“Members of Knesset Tibi, Odeh, Ofer Kasif and Aida Touma Sliman[31] from the joint[32], voted against our law to combat illegal weapons[33].Remember this the next time they blame the police or the State of Israel for the problem of illegal weapons in the Arab sector. The leaders of the Arab public in the Knesset do not want to fight crime in the Arab sector. Fact.”
[1] Huwara is a Palestinian town located in the Nablus Governorate. On 26 February, a mob of settlers attacked the village and burned cars and houses.
[2] In reference to Israeli peace activists that demonstrated against settlers’ attacks against Huwara and its residents.
[3] In reference to illegal Israeli settlers
[4] In reference to the Palestinian people
[5] On 3 May 2021, settlers established “Evyatar” colonial settlement installation (outpost) on Jabal Sabih in Nablus governorate. A month later, the settlers reached an agreement with the Israeli government to leave but not demolish the structures and were promised to return.
[6] In reference to the Israeli occupation forces, Israel’s Security Agency, and Israel's “National Counter Terror Unit”.
[7] On 7 March 2023, Israeli occupation forces raided the Jenin refugee camp, killing seven Palestinians including one child.
[8] Ibid
[9] In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
[10] In reference to the settlements that were evacuated as part of the disengagement plan from the Gaza strip in 2005.
[11] In reference to Palestinian resistance organizations
[12] The post is in response to a news article on Kann News regarding Netanyahu’s decision to postpone the verdict regarding the establishment of the Evyatar settlement and the eviction of Khan Al-Ahmar.
[13] Palestinian Bedouin community in the Jerusalem governorate
[14] In reference to Palestinian prisoners.
[15] Palestinian prisoners suspended an open hunger strike that was supposed to start on the first day of Ramadan (23 March) after reaching an agreement with Israel’s prisons’ authority to stop all punitive and arbitrary measures against them
[16] In reference to Palestinian resistance organizations
[17] In reference to the ongoing inner-Israeli conflict regarding the government’s legal reform.
[18] In reference to Palestinian resistance fighters
[19] An Israeli right-wing settlers’ movement that promotes the construction and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
[20] In reference to a series of legislations the current Israeli government is promoting. The proposed bill will center the power of the Supreme Court in the hands of the government, granting it unlimited authority.
[21] In reference to the Palestinian People
[22] In response to an interview of Avigdor Lieberman on Channel 7 website in which he stated that “Terrorism is increasing and Netanyahu is begging Abu Mazen for quiet (…)”
[23] In reference to the Al-Karameh Border Crossing. The bridge crosses the Jordan River near the city of Jericho and connects the occupied West Bank with Jordan.
[24] In reference to Yair Lapid, head of Yesh Atid and leader of the opposition in the Israeli Knesset. He also served briefly as Prime Minister in 2022.
[25] In reference to a statement made by Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, denying the existence of the Palestinian people
[26] In reference to H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine
[27] In reference to monthly social allowances paid by the Palestinian National Authority to Palestinian prisoners, martyrs and their families
[28] In reference to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation: “Voice of Palestine.”
[29] A bill proposal meant to revoke financial state benefits from Palestinian citizens of Israel, and their families, who are allegedly convicted in Israeli courts of “terrorism” and proved to receive funds from the Palestinian National Authority.
[30] In reference to a Palestinian-Bedouin town in the south of Israel
[31] Referring to members of Hadash-Ta’al party – which represents Palestinian citizens of Israel in the Knesset.
[32] In reference to the Joint List, a former coalition of parties representing the Palestinian citizens of Israel.
[33] The Palestinian MKs voted against the bill as it allows the police to enter private homes without a warrant.