Israel's Official Incitement: February 2021

Israeli Official Incitement : February 2021

With the Israeli parliamentary (Knesset) elections approaching 1, the month of February witnessed a relentless flow of inciting statements against the Palestinian people by senior Israeli officials, including members of the Knesset, right-wing Zionist parties, and settlers' organizations. This report highlights inciting statements against the International Criminal Court, the Palestinian leadership and Palestinian citizens of Israel, mainly members of the Joint List party, and various political statements by senior Israeli officials endorsing colonization and annexation schemes against the land and people of Palestine.

I. Against the International Criminal Court in The Hague2

Benjamin Netanyahu- Prime Minister, Minister of Construction and Housing, Member of the Knesset Chairman of the Likud party (Facebook, 06 February)

“When the International Criminal Court in The Hague investigates Israel for highly false war crimes, this is pure anti-Semitism. This court was established to prevent tragedies like the Nazi Holocaust against the Jewish people, and now it is attacking the only country of the Jewish people.

First, the court claims that when Jews live in their homeland, in Shilo3, Hebron, Beit El4, and even in our capital, Jerusalem - this is a war crime. Secondly, the court claims that when our heroic soldiers protect us from terrorists5 who come to kill our children, and launch missiles at us – they are also committing war crimes (...)”

Nir Barkat- Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 06 February)

“The decision of the International Criminal Court in The Hague against Israel is completely unfounded. Israel is the only democratic and enlightened country in the region. It will continue to defend itself in various ways and will not allow terrorists or judicial terrorist6 to win.”

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the National Union Party and will be running the elections as the chairman of the Religious Zionist alliance7 known as HaTzionut HaDatit (Twitter, 6 February)

“Prime Minister @netanyahu must order the evacuation of Khan al-Ahmar8 tomorrow morning. Any other decision would be somewhat an acknowledgement of the delusional allegations of the anti-Semitic court of The Hague. What matters is not what the nations say, but what the Jews do9.”

Naftali Bennett- Member of the Knesset for the Yemina party (Facebook, 06 February)

“The International Criminal Court in The Hague proved yesterday- once again- to be the source of the modern anti-Semitism.

Although their claims hide behind the masks of "humanity" and "human rights", yet behind them stands pure anti-Semitism and harassment against the Jewish people.

The International Criminal Court is not doing justice, but supports politics and modern anti-Semitism (…)”

Avi Dichter- Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 07 February)

“Yesterday, the International Court of The Hague proved its hostile and anti- Semitic approach against the State of Israel and its security forces. It is no coincidence that the United States stands with Israel, even under the new administration.

On Friday evening, the International Criminal Court laid the foundations for a criminal investigation against Israel, after it ridiculously recognized the Palestinian Authority as a state with rights in court.

I have already predicted the decision of the International Criminal Court back in October that is why I have decided to propose a bill that protects IDF soldiers and security forces personal who risk their lives for the good of the citizens and the residents of Israel.

According to the bill, an Israeli who cooperates with a country or a body that helps a hostile international institution (the International Criminal Court as such) pushing the criminal judicial procedure against Israel will be prosecuted according to the law. Of course, except for certain exceptions mentioned by the law.

Members from both the coalition and the opposition joined my bill proposal, and with the formation of the new government, I will begin working on legalizing the bill.

Time is over for the Israelis10 who live with us in order to defame us and to fuel those who hate us (…)”

Avigdor Lieberman- Member of the Knesset for the Yisrael Beitenu party (Twitter, 05 February)

“As the world is facing the Corona crisis, the International Criminal Court in The Hague chooses to start a war aimed to undermine Israel's right to defend itself from terrorism11 We're talking about a ridiculous and outrageous decision.”

Osnat Hila Mark- Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 06 February)

“The decision of the International Criminal Court in The Hague is an expression of the modern anti-Semitism. When the Jews are not in diaspora and being targeted - we will target their country. I despise this decision and I say to those who sit in this institution – a nation cannot occupy its own land!”

Nissim Vaturi- Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 06 February)

“Meet Fatou Bensouda, the main prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, who received the approval of the judges of the court known for their "love" for Israel, to open a ridiculous investigation against Israel for "war crimes" committed in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria12^.

What you do not know about her is that she worked as the minister of Justice in the Islamic dictatorship in The Gambia. She is biased, she is anti-Semitic, and the one who signed a series of false claims against Israel.

The International Criminal Court was established after the Holocaust that our people went through. The same court decided yesterday to harm the only national home which we returned to after 2,000 years of difficult diaspora. It is important to note that the court did not have the courage to initiate this procedure during the administration of President Donald Trump in the United States. Now with Biden's administration, this is his first test of his relationship with Israel.

The court is ignoring that the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, and the disgrace decision to investigate Jewish settlements in all regions of our land, especially in Jerusalem, our capital, is a crime itself.

The heroic soldiers who defend us from the terror of “Arabs of Judea and Gaza” can get interrogated about false “war crimes”, while the real criminals who control the Palestinian Authority and who are considered “naive sheep” are not questioned in the court, despite the numerous war crimes they have committed, such as the bombings, inciting for terrorism and ethnic cleansing of Christians in Judea, Samaria13 and Gaza.

The state of Israel is the only democratic country in the Middle East and defends its citizens from terrorism every day. It is recommended that the court refrain from its anti-Semitic view and work on investigating war crimes committed by the Palestinian Authority and crimes committed in the dictatorships of Syria and Iran.”

 

Gilad Erdan – Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nation and Israeli Ambassador to the United States (Twitter, 6 February) 

“Israel completely rejects the distorted anti-Semitic decision taken by the International Criminal Court. It is no accident that both Israel and the United States have refrained from becoming members of this biased and political institution. We are a democratic country with an independent judiciary. The ICC has no jurisdiction whatsoever in this matter. The decision is an attack not only against Israel but against all democracies undermining the ability to defend civilians against terrorism. The court was established to investigate the World gravest war crimes but instead it meddles in political disputes rewarding Palestinian terrorists and pushing the Palestinians further sway frim the momentum of peace now taking place in the region.”

Danny Danon – Former Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Chairman of World Likud (Twitter, 6 February)

“The @IntlCrimCourt Chief Prosecutor #FatouBensouda demonizes #Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, while ignoring countries who carry out horrific human rights abuses. If anyone should be on the stand it should be ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.”

II. Against the Indigenous Palestinian citizens of Israel

Matti Yogev – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 25 February)

“We in the rightwing will embrace and accept everyone who sees himself as a part of this country and a partner. We will not accept the aides and supporters of terrorism masked as representatives of the Arab citizens14 in the State of Israel, while they care about the interests of terrorists15.”

Naftali Bennett – Member of the Knesset for the Yemina party (Facebook, 22 February)

“Embarrassing16. He who persecutes Chabad17, will end up hugging terrorists’ supporters18. This never was, and will never be.”

Itamar Ben-Gvir – Chairman of Otzma Yehudit party19 and is running the elections as part of the Religious Zionist alliance20 known as HaTzionut HaDatit (Facebook, 23 February)

“We will see who laughs last, Ahmad21. In the next Knesset, we will take care of you and the rest of the terrorists and terrorist supporters22.”

Matan Kahane – Member of the Knesset for the Yemina party (Facebook, 17 February)

“Supporters23 of infants’ killers and terrorists’ huggers have no place in the Knesset of Israel. Today something happened in Israel. The Bibi-Mansour Abbas alliance allowed those terrorists’ huggers to be members of the Knesset. Unprecedentedly, Likud members escaped the vote24 to disqualify terrorists’ huggers, members of the National Democratic Assembly25 and the Southern Islamic Movement26, thus granting them the legitimacy to be members of the Knesset of Israel. Even in elections there are red lines. Attempting to attract some of the Arab votes does not legitimize cooperation with supporters of terrorism.  The legitimacy that the Likud has granted today to Heba Yazbak, Sami Abu Shehadeh and Mansour Abbas27 will be a stain in the history of the Likud under Netanyahu (…)”

Osnat Hila Mark – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 17 February)

“I just voted, along with 15 members of the Central Elections Committee28 for the disqualification of Ibtisam Mara'na. I am ashamed for the Labor party, who chose to stand behind a candidate that disgraces the heart of Israel (…)”

Matti Yogev – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 17 February)

“Ibtisam Mara'na29 expressed her support in the armed resistance of terrorist organizations30 and undermined the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Therefore, she cannot run for the 24th Knesset. I bless this decision. Whoever supports terrorism and abolishes the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, their place is in the Parliament in Ramallah (Never in the state of Israel) and not in the Knesset.”

 

Nissim Vaturi – Knesset member for Likud party (Twitter, 25 February)

“They do not have a government without the praise of the Shahid31 by Yazbak32, who thinks that the state of Israel uses the memory of the holocaust in the name of the imaginary “occupation”33. Bennett and Gideon, is this the government you would like to join?”
 

Itamar Ben Gvir – Chairman of Otzma Yehudit party34 and is running in the elections as part of the Religious Zionist alliance35 known as HaTzionut HaDatit  (Twitter, 03 February)

“Says the one who36 wants Ahmed Tibi37 in the government. Only we will prevent the forming of a left-wing government supported by terrorism supporters from the Joint List.”

Itamar Ben Gvir – Chairman of Otzma Yehudit party in an Interview with Israeli Channel 13 on his party’s position regarding the expulsion of Palestinians (Times of Israel , 5 February)

“Only those38 who are not loyal to the state”.

Im Tirtzu organization39 (Twitter, 11 February)

“Students of Tel Aviv University are protesting against the violence in the Arab sector: Calls to eliminate Israel, hatred against Jews and waving the flags of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Because there is nothing like accusing the Jews for the internal illness of the sector40.”

Yoaz Hendel- Former Minister of Communications and a member of the New Hope party (Twitter, 06 February)

“The outrageous decision of the International Criminal Court in The Hague is a litmus test. Whoever supports this anti-Semitic decision cannot be a legitimate political partner41. Containment and blindness do not promote the desired coexistence42. The opposite.”

Settlers’ organization “Lach Yerushalaym”43 (Facebook, 22 February) 

“Ahmed Tibi44 and the Joint List: "Ben-Gvir45 wants to destroy Al-Aqsa Mosque".

MK Ahmad Tibi published a video displaying himself as leading the campaign to liberate the Golden gate46 mosque two years ago. Tibi admits in the video that he took part in the battle47 and uproar against imposing electronic gates at the entrances to the Temple Mount48 (…)” 

III. Against President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Leadership

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

“Terror or #COVID Vaccines? #Palestinian Authority”

Tzachi Hanegbi- Minister of Settlement Affairs, Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 10 February)

“Today we planted a tree in Nokdim49 area, as a part of a protest activity against the illegal construction of Palestinians on state lands in Area C.

I've made it clear to the participants in the protest that the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to get us confront the International Criminal Court in The Hague will not succeed: We will deepen our roots throughout the country and will continue to strengthen the settlers in Judea and Samaria50!”

Im Tirtzu organization (Twitter, 11 February)

“Good news! The Jewish National Fund51 will return to achieve its historical goal!

The days when the Palestinian Authority (…)proceeds with the quiet occupation of state lands, it is good that the Jewish National Fund continues to operate, preserve and expand the state's lands. It is good to build for our land!”

Ariel Kallner- Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 10 February)

“The war on the land of Israel continues with full power in diplomacy, the judiciary, and in the field as well. It was important for me to come today to Nokdim52 with other members of Knesset, dozens of activists and families against the hostile control53 of Area C.

It is exciting to be with an audience that loves and defends the land of Israel. Our right of this land is absolute. It is unreasonable for Western countries to fund hostile construction and control over our land (...)”

Im Tirtzu Organization54  (Twitter, 06 February)

“(…) The Hague55 has no right to intervene here, and if they were really relying on facts, then they should quickly blame their lovers, the supporters of terrorism from the terrorist Palestinian Authority (…)”

IV. Additional Examples

Gilad Erdan – Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nation and Israeli Ambassador to the United States (Twitter, 19 February) 

“Teaching hate will never bring peace! Anyone who wants to find a solution to the conflict should roundly condemn @UNRWA for refusing to take action against an educational curriculum that allows bigotry, hate, and anti-Semitism to flourish.”

Nissim Vaturi – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party, retweeted Zira Politit56 tweet (Twitter, 23 February)

“MK Nissim Vaturi (Likud) during a panel in front of the Yonatan Preparatory School57 in Alumim58: “A “Palestinian” state will not be established 14 km from the sea. We have seen what happened after the evacuation of Gush Katif59. If they do not wish to acknowledge that, let them choose one of the 21 Arab countries.”

Ariel Kallner- Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 06 February)

“290,000 euro.

This is the amount that the "human rights" organization "B'Tselem"60 received from foreign countries in order to prove that the judiciary system in Israel serves the "occupation" policy, therefore, the court 61must intervene.

Yesterday's decision by the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate "war crimes" committed by Israel in Judea and Samaria62, Gaza and Jerusalem, is a direct result of the subversive activities of the delegitimizing organizations63 and the judicial war led by foreign funding in Israel.

The activities of these disruptive organizations are destructive.

As a Chairman of the Lobby for the Fight Against Delegitimization, I submitted during the former Knesset term a bill proposal to impose heavy taxes on foreign funding, which the left-wing and "right" figures such as Benny Begin64 tried to obstruct it. I will work during the next term with full power to legalize it (...)”

Uzi Dayan – Member of the Knesset for the Likud (Facebook, 16 February)

“Denying access to the Tomb of the Patriarchs65 is a crime against visitors who find it difficult to access the heritage site which is available to all. Responsible for the ongoing neglect is the subversive Palestinian leadership in Hebron and the bureaucratic judiciary, but we must control the issue and provide a humane solution for everyone(…)”

• 1. Israeli Elections will be held on 23 March 2021
• 2. On 5 February 2021, the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided that the Court's territorial jurisdiction in the Situation in Palestine extends to the territory occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Read more on Wafa: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/123143
• 3. Shilo is an illegal Israeli settlement established in 1979 on Palestinian lands north of Ramallah city
• 4. Beit El is an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, located east of the Palestinian city of Al-Bireh
• 5. In reference to the Palestinian people
• 6. In reference to the Palestinians and the Palestinian National Authority
• 7. The Religious Zionist alliance is composed of the National Union party, Otzma Yehdit party, and Noam party
• 8. A Palestinian Bedouin Village in Jerusalem governorate that Israel intends to demolish to advance its colonial settlement plan known as “E1”
• 9. Echoing a phrase attributed to Israel’s founding Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion
• 10. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of Israel and Israeli Human Rights organizations
• 11. In reference to the Palestinian people
• 12. In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 13. Ibid
• 14. In reference to Members of the Joint List party
• 15. In reference to the Palestinian people
• 16. This post comes as a result of the statement by opposition leader in the Knesset Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid- Telem party) regarding the formation of a government with the support of the Joint List
• 17. Chabad-Lubavitch is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty
• 18. In reference to Members of the Joint list party
• 19. An extreme right wing party ‘Kahanist’ which failed to pass the votes’ threshold in the previous elections (the 23rd Knesset). The party is well known for its blatant racism and incitement against Palestinians
• 20. Is an alliance between National Union party, Oztma Yehudit party and Noam party
• 21. In reference to MK Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List party
• 22. In reference to the Palestinian people and members of the Joint list party
• 23. In reference to members of the Joint List party
• 24. Israel’s central election commission refused to disqualify members of the Joint List party from running in the coming Knesset elections. The petition was filed by Otzma Yehudit party against Joint List members. Read more in the Middle East Monitor:https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210218-israels-elections-body-refuse...
• 25. Arab party that is part of the Joint list
• 26. Also known as Ra’am: A party representing Palestinian citizens of Israel that was part of the Joint List but split to independently run in the upcoming Knesset elections
• 27. Members of the Joint List party. Mansour Abbas's party (Ra'am) split from the Joint List party and will be running the elections independently
• 28. On 17 February 2021, Israel's Central Election Committee voted to disqualify Ibtisam Mara’na, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, and a film producer, who is running the elections on the Labor slate, for comments she made on social media. The Israeli Supreme Court later overturned that decision allowing Mara’na to participate in the upcoming Knesset elections. The petition was filed by Otzma Yehudit party
• 29. Ibid
• 30. In reference to Palestinians
• 31. In reference to Palestinian martyrs
• 32. Heba Yazbak MK of the National Democratic Assembly party (part of the Joint List)
• 33. Nassim Vaturi MK Likud accusing MK Heba Yazbak of praising Palestinian martyrs and inciting against the Israeli occupation which he claims is ‘imaginary’
• 34. An extreme right wing party ‘Kahanist’. This party is well known for its blatant racism and incitement against Palestinians
• 35. An alliance composed of National Union party, Otzma Yehudit party, and Noam party
• 36. In reference to MK Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid-Telem) party who expressed his objection to PM Netanyahu’s support to Itamar Ben Gvir
• 37. MK Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List
• 38. Members of the Otzma Yehudit extremist right wing party are well known for their racist positions against Palestinians among which is the expulsion of Palestinians from both the occupied West and Israel
• 39. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of Israel
• 40. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of Israel
• 41. In reference to members of the Joint List party
• 42. The coexistence according to the Israeli right wing is about Palestinians having no rights to demand
• 43. An Israeli settlers organization promoting the Judaization of Jerusalem
• 44. MK of the Joint List party
• 45. Itamar Ben Gvir is the chairman of Otzma Yehudit party
• 46. The only eastern gate of Al-Aqsa Mosque
• 47. Clashes that took place in 2017 after the Israeli occupying forces tried to impose electronic gates at the entrances of Alqsa Mosque Compound
• 48. In reference to Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound
• 49. Nokdim is an illegal Israeli settlement located south of the city of Bethlehem
• 50. In reference to the Palestinians and their leadership
• 51. Jewish National Fund (JNF) approved a new policy that will allow the organization to officially purchase land in the occupied West Bank for the expansion of Israeli illegal settlements. Read More in Axios: https://www.axios.com/jewish-national-fund-expand-west-bank-settlements-...
• 52. Nokdim is an illegal Israeli settlement located south of Bethlehem city in the occupied West Bank
• 53. In reference to the Palestinian National Authority
• 54. An Israeli right-wing Zionist organization
• 55. In reference to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands
• 56. This account provides Israeli political updates
• 57. Pre-military school
• 58. Alumim is a Kibbutz in the northwestern of the Negev deser
• 59. Gush Katif was the name of the 17 illegal Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip that were evacuated in 2005 in the context of so called Israel’s disengagement plan.
• 60. B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, is an Israeli human rights organization documenting Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians
• 61. In reference to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands
• 62. In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 63. In reference to the Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations in Israel that documents Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians
• 64. A former MK for the Likud party, and today he is part of Gideon Saar’s party “New Hope” that split from the Likud party
• 65. In reference to the Ibrahimi mosque in city of Hebron