Israeli Official Incitement: August 2022
Israeli Official Incitement: August 2022
I. Against the Palestinian People
Benny Gantz – Minister of Security (Facebook, 7 August 2022)[1]
“Whoever seeks to harm citizens of Israel – we will harm them.
Yesterday, Khaled Mansour, commander of the southern division of the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, was eliminated during a joint operation between the IDF[2] and Shin Bet.We will continue to act until we restore quiet and remove all threats against the children in the area surrounding Gaza. I compliment the IDF and the Shin Bet for the huge efforts invested in maintaining Israel’s security.”
Amir Ohana – Member of the Knesset for the Likud (Facebook, 4 August 2022)
“One of the important laws I passed in the Knesset allows the annulment of residency of those involved in terrorism[3], contrary to the High Court of Justice’s decision that prevents this option. This is an important law, but the work is not done and the battle is still long.”
May Golan – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 05 August 2022)
“During the military operation, we are all an iron fist against Muslim terrorism![4]
United for the IDF, its warriors – the entire security apparatus!
Our prayers for peace to all citizens of Israel, and our hearts are with the beloved residents of the Gaza Envelope in these complex hours (…)”
Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 07 August 2022)
“This morning, I arrived on the Temple Mount[5], the holiest place for the Jewish people, along with my young son, David, to march and as a reminder that we have sovereignty over Temple Mount. We will never surrender, not to rockets, not to terrorists’ threats, and not to those from within us that attack[6]. The People of Israel live.”
Ayelet Shaked – Minister of Interior Affairs (Twitter, 14 August 2022)
“(…)We will ensure that any government that is established, they[7] cannot promote their joint vision with Gantz[8] to establish a Palestinian state. (…)”
Lach Jerusalem Settlers’ Organization[9] (Facebook, 25 August 2022)[10]
Maor Tzemach, Chairman of Lach Jerusalem, and Matan Peleg, the chairman of Im Tirtzu[11], in a joint statement: “It does not make sense for a school that is a greenhouse for terrorists to be located a few dozen meters from the Western Wall under Israeli sovereignty. The videos speak for themselves: a reenactment of Arafat’s, the murderer, funeral. Quoting the Quran to praise suicide boomers and more. We demand that the Israeli police and the prosecution immediately arrest any educational staff member who is responsible for the insane incitement happening in Al-Wifaq school. Minister of Education, Yifat Shasha-Biton, must immediately deal with the extreme nationalist incitement, which we have uncovered these past few months in Arab schools.”
Ayelet Shaked – Minister of Interior (Twitter, 26 August 2022)[12]
“We established a Jewish state to be protected from lynches.
The lynchers[13] are terrorists, and should be treated accordingly.
The flag of Israel will be safely waved anywhere in our country.”
II. And Against the Indigenous Palestinian Citizens of Israel
Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 20 August 2022)[14]
“It seems that the heads of the Joint List met with the PA’s head of intelligence. You don’t need intelligence to know they are terrorists and terrorism supports; their place is in the Syrian parliament.”
Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 20 August 2022)
“They are terrorism supporters; they visit terrorists[15], conspire against the Israeli democracy, and receive salaries from each one of us.
There is no place for Odeh, Tibi, and Abu Shehadeh in the Israeli Knesset (…)”
Danny Danon – Israel's Former Ambassador to the UN, Chairman of the World Likud (Facebook, 06 August)
“During the weekend, we witnessed protests from violent extremist factors that encourage terrorism[16].We must make it clear to anyone who thinks about starting violent riots and taking advantage of the situation to ignite the field – any such attempt will be answered with an iron fist. Riot starters in mixed cities must be answered with a determined and appropriate reaction from the security forces[17].”
Miri Regev – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 24 August 2022)[18]
“Ahmad Tibi, Minister of Public Security. Ayman Odeh, Minister of Jerusalem Affairs. Ofer Cassif, Chairman of Foreign and Security Affairs. And Abbas[19] is in charge of terrorists[20] in jails.
Sounds like a nightmare?
Don’t say we didn’t say it -Gantz and Lapid[21] have no government without supporters of terrorism from the Joint List.”
Danny Danon – Chairman of the World Likud (Facebook, 02 August 2022)[22]
“MK Cassif[23] and the Joint terror list should have been investigated a long time ago. A fifth column that has no place in the Knesset.”
Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 05 August 2022)[24]
“The automatic support of Odeh and his friends[25] to the enemy during combat[26] – cannot go unanswered! In the Israeli Knesset sits a fifth column that is inciting against the citizens and state of Israel. Their words are not only severe and despicable, but they are also dangerous[27].”
III. Against President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Leadership
Benjamin Netanyahu – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 18 August 2022)
“Lapid and Gantz[28] are making dangerous concessions[29] to the Holocaust denier Abu Mazen[30]. After years where the Likud has removed Abu Mazen from the agenda, Lapid and Gantz are bringing him back to the center of the stage[31]. Only the Likud will establish a stable government that will return Abu Mazen to isolation, and only the Likud will establish a truly nationalist government that will not depend on the supporters of Abu Mazen from the Arab United List and the Joint list.”
Miri Regev – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 20 August 2022)
“(…) This is the same Abu Mazen who is trying to influence the elections in Israel so that Netanyahu does not have 61 seats[32]. After the Shura committee[33] ran this weak government, Fatah’s[34] committee also wants to take part. In the PA, it is understood that this government spoils them and supports terrorism, so they will do anything to maintain it. The security of the citizens of Israel is abandoned by a leftist government that is subject to the Islamic Movement and Fatah (…)”
Miri Regev – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 17 August 2022)[35]
“Abu Mazen is a terrorist who hates Israel and denies the Holocaust.
And yes, this is the same Abu Mazen that was Gantz’s guest of honor in Rosh Haayin[36].
The same Abu Mazen that ministers in this government, Horowitz and Zanberg[37], pilgrimage to.The same government that Sa’ar and Shaked[38], the fake right, sit in[39].
This is the same Abu Mazen that Lapid sees as a partner. We must stop this leniency with the enemies, deniers, and destroyers of Israel(…)”
Yariv Levin – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 17 August 2022)[40]
“Abu Mazen’s outrageous statements are proof to what we have long known. This is a hater of Israel, supporter and funder of terrorism[41] who shamelessly spreads anti-Semitic theories across international stages. This man needs to be condemned, not invited home like Benny Gantz did[42].”
Nir Barkat – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Twitter, 17 August 2022)[43]
“Abu Mazen’s anti-Semitic statements teach what we have been saying for a long time; Abu Mazen’s, who funds terrorists, only goal is to destroy Israel. Abu Mazen is not “a partner for peace” but a Holocaust denier who teaches hatred of Israel to Palestinian children. Not only is he not the solution, Abu Mazen is the problem.”
Orit Strock – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 23 August 2022)
“Sa’ar[44] on Galatz[45]: Gantz met with Abu Mazen to strengthen the security cooperation, there is no exchange of state lands.
So:
1. The Minister of Security has active cooperation with Abu Mazen, specifically to exchange state lands. The PA takes control of them, and Gantz whitewashes the takeover[46].
2. He also has financial cooperation with Abu Mazen: He has been paying the salaries for his terrorists for a year[47].”
Ad Kan[48] - Right wing organization (Facebook, 25 August 2022)[49]
“While Benny Gantz placates Abu Mazen, the other side[50] continues to ridicule us.
The Ministry of Security ordered the closure of the offices of the organizations identified as terrorist organizations[51]. The PLO decided, during an emergency meeting in Ramallah, to open a temporary office to those organizations.”
[1] In reference to a new political alliance under the name “National Unity Party” that will run in the coming elections on 1 November. The party is made up of Benjamin Gantz’s Blue and White party, Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope party and the former Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot.
[2] In reference to Benjamin Gantz, Minister of Security
[3] An Israeli settlers’ organization promoting the Judaization of occupied Jerusalem
[4] The post is a response to the news about Al-Wifaq school in the old city and Al-Rawda Al-Haditha school in Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem, claiming that these schools are greenhouses for terrorism for commemorating events and Palestinian leaders such as former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
[5] An Israeli right-wing Zionist organization
[6] Palestinian residents of Nabi Samuel Palestinian village demonstrated against Israeli closures on 26 August. During the demonstration, a Jewish settler entered the village and waved the Israeli flag to provoke the demonstrators. In order to stop the settler's provocative actions, the demonstrators chased him. As a result, Israeli journalists and politicians referred to the incident as "lynching committed by Palestinians against innocent Jews".
[7] In reference to Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem
[8] In the context of the Israeli aggression against the occupied Gaza Strip between 5 and 7 August 2022
[9] In reference to Israeli occupation forces
[10] In reference to Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem.
[11] See footnote 1
[12] In reference to Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
[13] Referring to Israelis opposed to the ideology of MK Ben Gvir and raids into the Aqsa Mosque Compound
[14] According to Israeli news reports, the heads of the Joint List secretly met with a senior figure in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to prevent Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a coalition and returning to power.
[15] In reference to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
[16] In reference to left wing activists, Jews and Palestinians, who protested Israel’s military operation against the occupied Gaza Strip
[17] Referring to the demonstrations that took place in mixed and Palestinian cities inside Israel proper in May 2021 to protest Israeli settlers' attempts to take over Palestinian homes in Sheikh Jarrah and Israel's aggression against the occupied Gaza Strip. According to Danon, the demonstrations weren't in solidarity with the Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and the Gaza Strip but rather were incited by people of interest.
[18] See footnote 14
[19] In reference to MK Mansour Abbas from United Arab List party
[20] In reference to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
[21] In reference to PM Yair Lapid and Minister of Security Benjamin Gantz.
[22] The post is in response to the announcement that Gali Baharav-Miara is opening an investigation against MK Ofer Cassif. An incident occurred between MK Ofer Cassif and an Israeli border policeman on 13 May this year during a demonstration for left-wing activists in south Hebron.
[23] In reference to MK Ofer Cassif from the Joint List party
[24] See footnote 1
[25] In reference to MK Ayman Odeh and the rest of the Joint List
[26] For speaking out against Israel’s aggression against the occupied Gaza Strip
[27] The tweet comes in response to MK Odeh’s Tweet stating “Israel is committing war crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip for political interests and the Palestinians pay the price. We have to seize the fire right away. Only negotiations to end the occupation can bring security to people. Not the blood of innocent kids”. https://twitter.com/AyOdeh/status/1555574251708731393?cxt=HHwWgsC-7ciiwZYrAAAA
[28] In reference to PM Yair Lapid and Minister of Security Benjamin Gantz
[29] According to Netanyahu, PM Yair Lapid wants to negotiate with the Palestinians and give up land
[30] President Mahmoud Abbas
[31] Likud party leader Netanyahu suggests that the Palestinian issue and Palestinian President could be pushed to the side and made irrelevant
[32] It was reported on 19 August that MKs Ayman Odeh and Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List had secret meetings with the Palestinian President about the upcoming elections.
[33] In reference to the United Arab List party
[34] Fatah is a Palestinian nationalist social democratic political party
[35] The post comes in the context of the Palestinian President’s statement in Germany on 17 August, during the press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
[36] In reference to the meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and Gantz on 28 December 2021
[37] In reference to Minister of Health Nitzan Horowitz and Minister of Environmental Protection Tamar Zandberg from Meretz party.
[38] In reference to Minister of Justice Gideon Sa’ar and Minister of Interior Ayelet Shaked.
[39] Rather than a right-wing coalition, MK Regev suggests that the current coalition embodies a left-wing ideology.
[40] See footnote 35
[41] In reference to social allowances paid by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to Palestinian martyrs and their families.
[42] See footnote 36
[43] See footnote 35
[44] Minister of Justice Gideon Sa’ar
[45] An Israeli Radio Station
[46] In reference to Palestinian construction in the Oslo-defined Area C in the occupied West Bank.
[47] As reported by Israeli news, Gantz allegedly offered 500 million NIS to the Palestinian National Authority as a ‘loan’ to face its financial crisis during his meeting with Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas in August 2021. This is not an accurate frame since this money is Palestinian and therefore this could not be considered to be a “loan” but rather the return of Palestinian money to the Palestinian government.
[48] A right-wing organization that infiltrates Israeli left-wing organizations it perceives as anti-Israel. Israel's authorities or media are then notified of the collected information
[49] Ad Kan implies in its post that the PA does not abide by Israeli decisions despite the latter's attempts to comply. According to this organization, and as part of its support for Palestinian organizations, the PLO also seeks alternatives to solve their problems.
[50] In reference to the Palestinian side
[51] On 22 October 2021, Benjamin Gantz declared six Palestinian human rights organizations as terrorist organizations