Israeli Official Incitement: August 2021

I. Against Palestinian Prisoners, Martyrs and their Families

Amichai Chikli – Member of the Knesset for the Yemina party (Facebook, 08 August)

“(…) I will (also) fight against the mere presence of terrorist supporters in the Knesset1. There is no room for compromise in our fight against Palestinian terrorism.”2

Ofir Sofer – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 09 August)

“Imprisoned terrorists3 will not receive money from the Palestinian Authority against the law. Period. This morning I sent a letter to the Attorney General of Israel, Avichai Mandelblit, stating that under the sponsorship of the Israel Prison Service, millions of Shekels are being transferred annually from the Palestinian Authority to the imprisoned terrorists using Postal bank accounts. 

According to the documents requested by the organization Lavi4, the fund transfer is being done against the anti-terrorism law5, which clearly prohibits the compensation of terrorists for their operations. I demand the Attorney General open a criminal investigation and immediately stop the fund transfer for terrorists.”

II. Against the Indigenous Palestinian Citizens of Israel

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 25 August)

“Today I was interviewed by Amnon Levi6, and I explained to him that I do not raise a glass to Kharoumi's death7, but he was an enemy who supported the harm of soldiers, therefore, I am not acting like the rest of the hypocritical politicians.”

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 25 August)

“We now conclude a shocking tour of the old city of Acre. We returned to the massive vandalism and violence8, which the evidence for is still strongly present in the field. We cannot stick our heads in the sand like an ostrich. There is nationalist extremists among many of the Arabs in Israel, and worse still, there are Arab leaderships9 supporting terrorism and are unfortunately a part of this terrible government.”

Im Tirtzu Movement10 (Twitter, 25 August)

“Among the attempts to hide the facts, let us give a clear reminder: MK Alkharumi praised the killers of the 192911 massacre, expressed sympathy with the despicable killer Marwan Barghouti12, and only recently attended an assembly in support of those13 arrested after committing the lynching in Acre and al-Lydd.”

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 25 August)

“If this14 is the new partner in Bennett’s15 coalition. The state of Israel will be in her hands and the hands of her friends16, anti-Zionist supporters of terrorism, and will remain in their hands until we manage to replace this terrible government.”

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 14 August)

“20 years ago, the terrorist Ahmad Tibi17 attacked a soldier and got away with it, I hope that is not the case this time. This evening I went to the police and the Attorney General to ensure that Tibi is investigated and prosecuted for attacking a soldier18. And the fighter who put Ahmed Tibi in his place deserves a certificate of appreciation!”

Im Tirtzu Movement (Twitter, 19 August)

“Knesset Chairman Mickey Levy19 stood, in an embarrassing move, with the provocateur who praises martyrs20 Ahmad Tibi. Instead of supporting IDF21 soldiers who are protecting us in Hebron, he calls for their questioning.” Let us show our soldier that we will not abandon them when faced with the supporter of terrorism Tibi and the Knesset Chairman is fawning over him.”

Miri Regev – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 08 August)

“The security of citizens of Israel is now in the hands of Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi and Abbas22, supporters of terrorism and fans of martyrs23 (…)"

Shlomo Kari – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 11 August)

"Unfortunately, the same law- enforcement gang, the same High Court of Justice, let you24 in the Knesset although you oppose our mere existence on the land of our fathers... This is a problem in itself. That was my answer to Ahmed Tibi.”

III.  Against President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian  Leadership

Shlomo Karhi – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 30 August)

“After a decade of PM Netanyahu who took out the Palestinian issue from the agenda, Bennett and Gantz bring it to the front of the stage. Each meeting25 such as this empowers the Palestinians, in the eyes of the world, against Israel, and brings false narrative of occupier and occupied instead of a democratic state26 against vicious terrorism27 (…)”

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 30 August)

“They28 are spitting in our face, fund terrorism, name squares after killers, and give awards to whoever kills Jews, and the Minister of Defense of Israel meets with them. Shame!29”

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 11 August) 

“At a time when they30 are freezing and demolishing Jewish construction in settlements, the government of Israel is leaving Judea and Samaria31 in Palestinian hands. This began by ignoring the intensive strategic Arab construction in all of Area C, the increase in demolition of Jewish homes, and now they approve a large construction for the Palestinian Authority32. This is not 10 degrees to the right, but 90 degrees to the left33."

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 12 August)

“The decision of the Defense Minister yesterday to approve construction for the Arabs in Area C is seriously dangerous, and I will explain why.

First, let me be clear, I support planning for Arabs in Judea and Samaria. We control the land, and as is known, we want to impose Israeli influence on it, and we hold the responsibility for the Arabs of the region.

The question is how? Especially where?

A battle on the ground has been going on for many years as Arabs try to impose facts on the ground and control additional areas. They do so systematically with serious strategic thinking that aims to build an Arab geographical extension, acquire strategic areas, and affect the development of Israeli settlement by surrounding it with Arab construction, creating a barrier and thus cutting off the settlement extension. The Palestinian plan is written and implemented with great funds and with the help of several countries in the world and is based on the desire to establish an Arab state de facto and by avoiding the need to negotiate with the state of Israel. The core of the scheme is implemented illegally, while part of it is done legally.

For many years the state of Israel has acted very little and too late against these organized efforts of the Palestinian Authority and the reality on the ground is being cemented in a dangerous way.

On the other hand, the state of Israel has a major interests in the area - security, settlement, and patriotism - and we must preserve and strengthen them. Planning for the Arabs should be according to Israeli interests and not Arab ones (…)”

Regavim Organization34 (Twitter, 27 August)

“The plan for the new school year: the Palestinian Authority is already taking us to school! While we are discussing the return to school plan35, for the Palestinian Authority the plan is clear – an organized takeover of Israeli land36. They call them "School for the Struggle" The struggle against the state of Israel of course.” 

IV. Additional Examples

Nir Barkat – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 10 August)

“There is an American embassy in Jerusalem, therefore, opening a new consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem would mean admitting that Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine, with the endorsement of the Bennett-Lapid government37. This a red line should not be approved!”

Nir Barkat – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 28 August)

“The lesson from Afghanistan – no to a Palestinian state!”

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 04 August)

“This is not a video from Gaza, this is a video from a boat trip here in Kfar Blum38. A children's camp and their guides singing songs that call for the killing of Jews, Incitement, and racism39. It is shocking to see children raised with so much hate. 

I myself was attacked when I visited with my family, but I did not remain silent. Be aware of what is happening to us in the rivers and springs.”

• 1. In reference to Knesset members both from the United Arab List and the Joint List parties
• 2. In the context of the Israeli court decision to hold a meeting to discuss the request for an early release of prisoner Mohammad Ighbariyeh, a Palestinian citizen of Israel from Wadi Ara
• 3. In reference to the Palestinian prisoners
• 4. Lavi is a right wing Zionist organization see : https://www.lavi.org.il/
• 5. A law was issued in 2016 and states that ‘terrorists and members of terror organization should get the worst punishments in the Israeli prisons. The law regards as well to people that support terror.”
• 6. Israeli Journalist working for Channel 13
• 7. In reference to Palestinian MK Saeed Alkharumi for the United Arab List party, who passed away on August 24th from a heart attack
• 8. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of Israel in the city of Acre
• 9. In reference to Knesset members of the Joint List and the United Arab List parties
• 10. An Israeli right-wing (nonprofit) Zionist organization
• 11. In reference to Al-Buraq uprising
• 12. Senior Member of Fateh Central Committee who was detained in 2002 by the Israeli occupying forces and is currently serving a life-term sentence in jail
• 13. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of the cities Acre and al-Lydd who went on demonstrations during last May 2021 against Israel’s aggression against the Palestinian people
• 14. In reference to MK Iman Khatib-Yasin of the United Arab List party who replaced MK Saeed Alkharumi who passed away on August 24
• 15. In reference to Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
• 16. In reference to other Knesset members from the United Arab List party
• 17. MK for the Joint List party
• 18. MK Ahmad Tibi was assaulted by an occupation soldier during a visit to Hebron with MKs Ayman Odeh, Osama Saadi, and Sami Abu Shehadeh, to protest Israel’s new colonial project in Al-Ibrahimi Mosque. See haaretz: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium--1.10128887
• 19. MK for Yesh Atid party
• 20. In reference to Palestinian martyrs
• 21. The Israeli occupying forces
• 22. Ghaida Zoabi is an MK for Meretz party and Mansour Abbas Iis an MK for the United Arab List party
• 23. In reference to their support to Palestinian prisoners
• 24. In reference to Knesset members of the Joint List and the United Arab List parties
• 25. In reference to the meeting that was held on 29 August between the President of the State of Palestine, H.E. Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli’s so called Defense Minister Binyamin Gantz see Wafa: http://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/125914
• 26. In reference to Israel
• 27. In reference to the Palestinians
• 28. In reference to the Palestinian National Authority
• 29. In reference to the meeting that was held on 29August between the President of the State of Palestine, H.E. Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli’s Minister of Defense Binyamin Gantz: http://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/125914
• 30. In reference to the Israeli government
• 31. In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 32. Times of Israel reported that Israel’s so called “Defense” Minister Benny Gantz approved the construction of 1,000 homes for Palestinians in Area C mostly in the Jenin and Bethlehem areas. This news was denied by the PLO’s National Office for Combating Settlements and Land Defense saying: “ Israel is deceiving and lying in its claims to allow the Palestinians to build in Area C” See: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/plo-accuses-israel-of-lying-about-a...
• 33. Negating the slogan of the new formed government that it will be 10 degrees to the right more than Netanyahu’s former government, Ben Gvir claims that the new government is 90 degrees to the left
• 34. A right-wing settler organization operating in the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine.
• 35. In reference to the Israeli government’s negotiations regarding going back to schools in the context of Covid19
• 36. Regavim organization continue to accuse the Palestinian National Authority of implementing a strategic plan to control area C which is an integral part of the occupied West Bank
• 37. In reference to Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid
• 38. Kfar Blum is located in the Hula Valley part of the Upper Galilee
• 39. The children are heard in the video chanting “ with our soul and blood we redeem you Al-Aqsa”