Israeli Official Incitement: November 2019

Israeli Official Incitement: November 2019

This report highlights recent inciting statements by senior Israeli officials, including members of parliament and political parties. It includes examples of official Israeli incitement against the Palestinian people and leadership, UNRWA, European Union, as well as racist statements against the indigenous Palestinian citizens of Israel; particularly their representatives in the parliament.

I. Ongoing Assaults against Gaza

Benjamin Netanyahu- Prime Minister, MK Likud (Facebook, 26 November)

“If someone in Gaza thinks that he can raise his head after the ‘Black Belt’ operation - he is wrong and very mistaken. We will respond firmly to every attack against us and will continue to maintain the security of Israel on all fronts.”

Benny Gantz, MK Leader of Blue and White Party (Twitter, 12 November)

“The terrorist Baha Abu al-Atta1 who was assassinated tonight is doomed to death. Just like Hamas chief of staff, Ahmed Ja’bari, just like any other terrorist who commits murderous acts against the citizens of Israel.”

Ram Ben Barak, MK Blue and White Party (Twitter, 12 November)

“The Islamic Jihad commander2 who was eliminated tonight was doomed to death. The targeted counterterrorism policy is an important strategy for combating terrorism…”

Yoaz Hendel, MK Blue and White Party (Twitter, 12 November)

“….the elimination of the terrorists' heads is necessary3. So as a very strong military response in the face of their reaction, in order to restore deterrence. There is no other solution…”

Gila Gamliel- Minister for Social Equality, MK Likud (Twitter, 12 November)

“So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD4. I congratulate the IDF and security forces for the successful assassination. Let every terrorist know- the long hand of Israel can reach everywhere5...” 

Yifat Shasha Biton- Minister of Construction and Housing, MK Likud (Twitter, 12 November)

“…..whoever attempts to threaten the security of the state of Israel must know that his blood will be in his head …”

Itamar Ben Gvir, Leader of Otzma Yehudit Party (Twitter , 12 November)

“…we have assassinated one, we must assassinate one every day. We must drain the swamp till they beg us to stop.”

II.  Against the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Nir Barkat- Former Mayor of Israel's Jerusalem Municipality, MK Likud on the UNGA voting to extend the mandate of UNRWA (Twitter, 27 November)

“In the wake of the UN decision to extend the mandate of UNRWA, an organization used for incitement and terror, I have submitted a bill to oust the organization from Israel, majority of blocs in Knesset supported the bill- Likud, the New Right, the Jewish Home–National Union, United Torah Judaism, Shas and Yisrael Beitenu…”

Ofir Sofer, MK Jewish Home- National Union retweeted Nir Barkat's post with the following comment on his twitter account:

“I was delighted to join such a very important and just bill submitted by my friend Nir Barkat to oust UNRWA from Israel. There is no place for inciters and the supporters of terror in our state.”

 

III.  The Indigenous Palestinian citizens of Israel

Rafi Peretz- Minister of Education, MK Jewish Home-National Union Party (Twitter, 24 November)

“Supporting the Islamic Movement's northern branch means supporting terrorism. Congratulations to the court on Raed Salah's conviction for supporting the outlawed organization. I hope that the verdict against him will be as severe as possible. The state of Israel has no place for the supporters of terror, even if they are Israeli citizens.”

Benjamin Netanyahu- Prime Minister, MK Likud (Facebook, 16 November)

“Gantz, today I am also ready to sit with you to establish a national unity government. This is what should be done. What is forbidden to be done, even for one day or for one moment, is to form a minority government with terror supporters. There is a red line here. My phone rings every night. They tell me prime minister you should strike here, you should strike there. What should I tell them? Wait a bit, I need to take the approval of Ayman Odeh? I need to take the approval of Ahmad Al-Tibi?...This issue would sabotage Israel’s security. It would constitute an existential threat to Israel.”

Naftali Bennett- Minister of Defense, MK the New Right Party (Facebook, 17 November)

“If the government of Israel will be affiliated with the Arab Joint list, then the 25 terrorists who were killed this week will be still alive. For those members, the IDF operation is like a premeditated murder. I urge Benny Gantz not to extend his hand for this.” 

Itamar Ben Gvir, Leader of Otzma Yehudit Party (Twitter, 17 November)

“Pictures with kids (which I have nothing against) won't help either. You are a terrorist and your place is in prison. Anyone who supports the murder of IDF soldiers cannot appear to be good to us.”

Miri Regev- Minister of Culture and Sport, MK Likud (Facebook, 16 November)

“A slap in the face of Israeli defense forces. Gantz, Boogie, Ashkenazi6 , the three of them are former chiefs of staff, agreed to move towards a minority government with the Arab Joint List. This government will be based on the supporters of Islamic Jihad and Hamas. We must stop this catastrophe!”

Benjamin Netanyahu- Prime Minister, MK Likud (Twitter, 11 November)

“Ahmad Al Tibi writes about senior terrorist Arafat: ‘always in our hearts’. Will Gantz and Lieberman form a government with him? A minority government with the support of Arab parties = a threat to Israel’s security.” 

Benjamin Netanyahu- Prime Minister, MK Likud in a press conference (Twitter, 11 November)

“ There is one government that should be established which is a broad  national unity government, there is one government that is forbidden to be established which is a minority government with the support of Arab parties….Benny Gantz do you recall what Al-Tibi did during the operation protective edge 7? He read the names of terrorists whom we killed in Gaza from the podium of the Knesset saying that IDF is committing war crimes…”

David Amsalem- Minister of Communications, MK Likud (Twitter, 11 November)

“For all those who are skeptical and wish to keep their eyes closed – see without filters, the nightmare show of the ‘fifth column’s band in the Israeli Knesset.”

Nir Barkat- Former Mayor of Israel's Jerusalem Municipality, MK Likud (Twitter, 12 November)

“ ……the Arab MKs' response to IDF activity today makes it clear that, at the moment of truth, they choose to side with Israel’s enemiesand so they cannot be partners in the leadership of the state and not in the Israeli government- neither in regular days nor in emergency situations.”

Yisrael Katz, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Twitter, 13 November)

“The attempt by some in the media and the left to distort the truth, and to present the Gaza operation as a political operation, is intended to keep the possibility of the formation of a Blue and White minority government supported by the Arab parties, who are the supporters of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.”

Yehuda Glick- Former MK, Member of Likud party (Twitter, 13 November)

“In the electoral campaign, the joint list did everything possible to make us think that they wanted to take part in the country's activities and to integrate in the society. There was a moment of hope. One operation that is the most legitimate8 , and the joint list is doing every possible mistake, spitting in the face of those who deluded themselves and believed that the Israeli Arab society is what they care about. They chose to side with the enemy! What a shame!”

Oren Hazan- Former MK, Leader of Tzomet party (Twitter, 13 November)

“…We must tell the truth in a clear sharp voice, there is one word that precisely defines the leaders of the evil gang, Ahmed al- Tibi, Ayman Odeh, Aida Toma Suliman, and Ofer Kassif - traitors!”

Yoaz Hendel, MK Blue and White Party (Twitter, 12 November)
 

“They don’t miss any chance to demonstrate in support for those who fire at us. They are the ones who are harming the most the coexistence and the need to integrate.”

Shlomo Karhi, MK Likud on his determination to collect signatures to oust Joint List members from the Knesset (Twitter, 14 November)

“I am following up on statements made by Joint List members and I regret to say that the suspension law cannot be activated at the moment. I have looked into the possibility of activating it against the supporters of terror in our parliament, but unfortunately as long as there is no official opposition, this cannot be done. The signature paper is already ready. Once a government is established, I will start recruiting the signatures. I'm sure that by the end we'll get 70 and even 90.”  

IV.  Against the Ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union that EU Countries must indicate the territory of origin of “Foodstuffs originating in the territories occupied by the State of Israel9"

Ayalet Shaked, MK leader of The New Right Party (Twitter, 12 November)

“Some hypocrisy. Such a decision exists only against the State of Israel. An anti-Semitic smell comes out of it. There is no similar marking directive taken in other conflict zones like the Crimea, Tibet, Cyprus, Western Sahara - and the list goes on. There is no justice in the European Court of Justice.”

Tzipi Hotovely- Deputy Foreign Minister, MK Likud (Twitter, 13 November)

“I thank our friend the United States, who stands by the State of Israel and condemns the decision of the European Court of Justice on marking products from Judea and Samaria [the occupied West Bank]. The European Court's decision discriminates against the State of Israel and encourages a boycott. The State of Israel considers Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria as legal under international law.”

Bezalel Smotrich, MK Jewish Home- National Union Party (Twitter, 12 November)

“On the same day - the enemies of Israel remind us of their desire to destroy us and the consequences of fleeing terrorism and abandoning control of the territory, and the European Court of Justice is steadily siding with them and continuing a delegitimization campaign against settlements in Judea and Samaria [occupied West Bank].  Judea and Samaria’s products will be proudly marked with a Jewish, Zionist, moral and security quality.”

Ariel Kallner, Former MK and Member of Likud Party (Twitter, 12 November)

“….Today, with the decision of the European Court of Justice to mark products from settlements, they also decided to continue to mark the Jews who returned to their country. All this is based on the double moral standards that characterize them. And yet we will not be deterred and will continue to build in our country with all our power!” 

Shlomo Karhi, MK Likud (Twitter, 12 November)

“…..the decision of the European Union’s top Court is a spit in Israel's face and an award for violence and terrorism. We must create such a balance, so that such a decision will have serious implications on Israel's relations with the Union10.”

 V. Against President Abbas and the Palestinian Leadership

Avigdor Lieberman, MK Yisrael Beitenu on the Dutch Parliament’s vote to suspend financial aid to the Palestinian National Authority over payments to mainly Palestinian prisoners (Twitter, 21 November)

“All respect  to the Dutch parliament which bravely decided to stop the transfer of funds to the Palestinian Authority which is funding  terror and to prohibit the marking of products from the settlements contrary to the EU decision….”

MK Ayalet Shaked also said (Twitter, 20 November)

“Congratulations to the Dutch parliament for its decision. We are glad to witness that more European countries are paying attention to its relations with the Palestinians and are refusing to fund terrorism…it is good that they have taken this decision late better than never.”

VI. Additional Examples

Miri Regev, Minister of Culture and Sport (Facebook, 28 November)

“Every family who sends her son to kill Jews should know that their house will be demolished. I congratulate the IDF and security forces for the operation of tonight in which they demolished the terrorists’ homes…”

• 1. Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza
• 2. In reference to the assassination of Islamic Jihad leader Baha Abu al Atta in Gaza
• 3. Ibid
• 4. Versus from the bible Judges 5:31
• 5. In reference to the assassination of Islamic Jihad leader Baha Abu al Atta
• 6. Benny Gantz, Moshe Yaalon also known as Boogie and Gavriel Ashkenazi are Blue and White party MKs
• 7. Israel’s aggression on the Gaza Strip in 2014
• 8. In reference to the assassination of Islamic Jihad Leader Baha Abu al-Atta in Gaza
   
• 9. https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2019-11/cp190140en.pdf
• 10. In reference to the European Union