Dr. Erakat Condemns Shas’ Spiritual Leader’s Incitement Towards Genocide

Today, Chief Palestinian Negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erakat, called on the Israeli government to denounce and take appropriate action against the constant Israeli incitement and racism against Palestinians.

Dr. Erakat’s call came after comments made by Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas Party, during his weekly sermon.

Yosef 's party, Shas, is one of the main coalition members in Netanyahu’s government.

In his sermon, Yosef declared that President Mahmoud Abbas and the rest of the Palestinian people must “perish” from this world. In 2001, Yosef called for the annihilation of all Arabs.

“The spiritual leader of Shas is literally calling for a genocide against Palestinians and there seems to be no response from the Israeli government,” adding that “he is particularly calling for the assassination of President Abbas who within a few days will be sitting face to face with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Is this how the Israeli Government prepares its public for a peace agreement?”

“While the PLO is ready to resume negotiations in seriousness and good faith, a member of the Israeli government is calling for our destruction. It is an insult to all our efforts to advance the negotiations process.”

Dr. Erakat concluded by calling on the Israeli Government to “do more about peace and stop spreading hatred.

This type of incitement is part of Israel’s larger policy against a Palestinian state, which also includes its illegal settlements activities, forced removals and evictions, home demolitions, water theft and separating occupied Jerusalem of its Palestinian residents. They all have the same destructive goal.

We call on the international community to condemn incitement to genocide by public figures in Israel.”