Israeli Official Incitement: May 2023
Israeli Official Incitement: May 2023
I. Against the Palestinian People
Orit Malka Strock, Minister of National Missions, Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism Party (Twitter, 2 May 2023)
“The anarchy on the street of Judea and Samaria[1] must stop! A situation in which armed terrorists are traveling freely on our streets, to the location of the attack and back, clearly knowing that their chances of encountering a checkpoint or an IDF[2] search are 0 – This situation is unreasonable, immoral, and intolerable. As a government minister, I am ashamed of this anarchy.”
Danny Danon, Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 2 May 2023) [3]
“Ramadan is over – the excuses are over. There is no reason for tolerance now. It is time to strike those who hurt us powerfully.”
Danny Danon, Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 3 May 2023) [4]
“Siege”? Open google maps – Gaza has a 14 KM border with Egypt. “Occupation”? Did you forget the evection of the settlers in Gosh Katif[5]? You are confused.”
Tzvi Yedidia Sukkot, Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 7 May 2023)
“3 Weeks after the complaint I filed against the Mufti of Jerusalem, Ekrima Sabri[6], and the Israeli police summoned him for questioning. This is one of the biggest inciters in Israel, a person who speaks in front of thousands of believers almost every week, praises terrorists (…) This man needs to sit in jail for as long as possible.”
Orit Malka Strock, Minister of National Missions, Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism Party (Facebook, 9 May 2023)
“Operation “Shield and Arrow”[7] brings back deterrence and also justice. A precise, calculated, responsible operation that makes it clear to our enemies who are trying to hurt us – your blood is on your hands. Even within the terrible reality created after the escape from Gaza in Oslo, and later in the Disengagement plan[8], a reality where there is no real solution for the terrorism that previous mistaken governments single-handedly created. Even in this difficult reality, we need to act responsibly and professionally. And most importantly, we need to remember and know not to repeat these past terrible mistakes (…).”
Gilad Erdan, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations (Twitter, 14 May 2023)
“As part of our campaign to boycott the events of the Palestinians’ “Nakba Day”[9] tomorrow in the UN, I sent a letter to the UN states’ Ambassadors and asked not to attend an event that depicts the establishment of Israel as a disaster. We have succeeded in convincing a significant number of states to boycott this despicable event, and I continue to act to convince more states.”
Tzvi Yedidia Sukkot, Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 30 May 2023)
“(…) The vast majority of attacks in the past year have come from the north of Samaria. Almost half of those killed in the entire country – from attacks from the north of Samaria. X territory that is developing into a monster. We must, must, must launch an operation against the terrorism cells there.”
Almog Cohen, Member of Knesset for the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party (Facebook, 31 May 2023)
“This morning, I arrived at Maasiyahu Prison[10] to call against the possible release of the despicable terrorist, Walid Dakka[11]. I am happy that the committee eventually determined that it is not in their authority to release him, but the fight is not over (…).”
Tally Gotliv, Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 23 May 2023)
“Walid Dakka, the damned, who killed soldier Moshe Tamam, may God avenge him, with torture and brutality, appealed to the parole board for an early release due to humanitarian reasons. The damned terrorist is sentenced to death, sweetened to unlimited life in prison, which the president approved. We cannot provide a despicable terrorist a victory photo! (…)”
Danny Danon, Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 23 May 2023)
“Is this how a “demolished” terrorist’s house looks like?[12]”
Almog Cohen, Member of Knesset for the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party (Facebook, 17 May 2023)
“I congratulate the departure of former MK Ayman Odeh[13] from political life. Instead of loyally representing the Arab and Bedouin public in the Negev, which needs employment, security, and health, Ayman Odeh used his power and time again to encourage terrorism, hate, and corruption. I am hopeful that the next representative that replaces him will truly care of the real problems of Israel’s Arabs in general and the Arabs in the Negev and south in particular.”
Torat IDF[14] (Twitter, 19 May 2023)
“Lions’ Gate: Terrorists attacking Jews with rocks.[15] There are injuries. So far, no terrorist was terminated.”
II. Against President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Leadership
Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Religious Zionism Party (Twitter, 4 May 2023)
“Continuing to fight terrorism! Today, I signed a deduction of an additional 3.2 million ILS from the PA’s money[16], which will be directly transferred to families harmed by terrorism based on the court’s verdict in the Litbeck case[17]. Those who hurt citizens of Israel will pay!”
Tzvi Yedidia Sukkot, Member of Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 10 May 2023)
“My first bill proposal passed, in this good time, the preliminary vote: Whoever waves a flag or symbol of a terrorist organization will pay a hefty fine. [18] Especially in these difficult moments – another step in the fight against terrorism.”
Almog Cohen, Member of Knesset for the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party (Twitter, 18 May 2023)
“I am happy to announce that the bill proposal of Minister May Golan, which I am promoting, that prevents the waving of PLO flags passed in a preliminary vote. The waving of the PLO flag, an organization defined in the law as a terrorist organization, is considered a legal offense in the State of Israel; however, in recent years, the law is not actually enforced. Therefore, these flags became a regular sight in the streets, campuses, and even in demonstrations in the most central cities in Israel. This bill proposal will bring back enforcement and will implement the letter of the law in the field. This is part of a comprehensive policy that I am promoting that calls for the return of sovereignty and enforcement to the streets of our country.”
Gilad Erdan, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations (Twitter, 24 May 2023)
“I met with the Secretary-General and the government’s coordinator in the territories, Major General Ghassan Aliyan. It was a very important meeting as part of our activity to prevent the inclusion of Israel on the “blacklist” of countries that hurt children. We presented the Secretary-General with the discrepancies in the UN’s report that omits the fact that most Palestinian minors killed in the past year were involved in terrorism, and the rampant incitement in the PA, even in kindergartens and schools. Those responsible for this incitement and the recruitment of children to murder and commit terrorism should be the ones on the “blacklist,” not the IDF, which is the most moral army in the world.”
III. Additional Examples
Eli Cohen, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Likud party (Twitter, 17 May 2023)
“Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for over 3000 years! As part of the 75 years celebration of the state, and in anticipation of Jerusalem Day, today we held an event in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in honor of the first four countries that moved their embassies to Jerusalem: USA, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Honduras (…). Soon, more countries will join them, and I made it my mission: three more countries will move their embassies to Jerusalem this year.”
Boaz Bismuth, Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 18 May 2023)
“I am excited to proudly march with our national flag in Jerusalem, together with tens of thousands of people. A message to the entire world that Jerusalem was, and will always be our eternal united capital. We will continue to stand guard of the holy city against anyone who seeks to undermine our right to it. Happy Jerusalem Day!”
[1] Referring to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
[2] Referring to the Israeli occupation forces
[3] Israeli officials refer to Ramadan as “Ramadam” – meaning a bloody Ramadan, claiming that Palestinian attacks against Jews increase during this holy month.
[4] In response to a posting by "Standing Together," a left-wing movement, which criticized Danny Danon's comment that launching operations against Palestinians will deter "terrorists."
[5] An illegal Israeli settlement in Gaza that was evacuated as part of the Israeli disengagement plan in 2005.
[6] Ekrima Sa'id Sabri was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine between 1994 till 2006
[7] Referring to the Israeli military operation against the Gaza strip which began on 9 May and lasted for five days, killing 34 Palestinians.
[8] Referring to the Disengagement Plan of 2005, during which Israel evacuated settlements in the Gaza strip and a few settlements in the occupied West Bank.
[9] Referring to the Palestinian catastrophe in 1948
[10] An Israeli prison in the city of Ramleh inside Israel
[11] Palestinian citizen of Israel from Baqa Al-Gharbieh serving 39 years sentence in Israeli jails which he completed recently on 24 March 2023. Dakka, who suffers from spinal cord cancer, has recently suffered successive and serious relapses due to Israeli deliberate crime of medical negligence nevertheless Israeli Prisons’ authority still rejects an appeal for his release.
[12] On 23 May, the Israeli occupation army demolished the house of Mu’taz Khawaja in Ni’lin village in Ramallah governorate who allegedly carried an attack in Tel Aviv city inside Israel on 9 March this year.
[13] Referring to Hadash chairman Ayman Odeh, who represents the Palestinian citizens of Israel in the Knesset. MK Odeh announced that he will be retiring from the political life after this term.
[14] A right-wing organization promoting Judaism and the spirit of combat in the Israeli occupation army.
[15] On 19 May 2023, Israeli settlers, protected by the Israeli occupation forces, stormed the Lions' Gate in occupied Jerusalem, smashed the windows of vehicles parked in the area, and attacked Palestinian worshippers while IOF fired stun grenades at the worshippers, leading to a number of injuries. https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/135873
[16] In January 2023, Israel’s cabinet approved a series of sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority in response to Palestine’s request at the UN to ask the International Court of Justice for a legal opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
[17] A case in which families of killed Israeli soldiers sued the Palestinian National Authority and were rewarded a monetary compensation by Israeli courts.
[18] Referring to a bill proposal that is meant to prevent the display of the flag of the State of Palestine claiming that it is the flag of Palestinian Liberation Organization, which Israel considers a ‘terrorist organization’