Israeli Official Incitement: July 2021

Israeli official Incitement: July 2021

The month of July witnessed a continuation of a fierce incitement campaign by Israeli officials, including members of the Knesset, right-wing Zionist parties, and settlers' organizations against the people of Palestine, particularly against Palestinian prisoners, martyrs, and their families, and against the Palestinian citizens of Israel mainly parliament members. This report presents examples of racist and hate-speech statements in addition to others endorsing Israeli colonization and annexation schemes against the land and people of Palestine.

I. Against Palestinian Prisoners, Martyrs, and their Families

Avi Dichter – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 09 July)

“(…)On Sunday, a bill will be presented for legislation to the Ministers' committee, which I initiated, dealing with the Israeli terrorists1 who receive monthly wages from the Palestinian Authority and are still citizens of Israel. According to the proposed bill, which was signed by tens of MK's from majority of the parties, an Israeli terrorist who receives compensation from the Palestinian Authority, will have their citizenship revoked while they are incarcerated, and upon release will be deported to the Palestinian Authority territories to live among those who funded the terror of the Israeli terrorist (…)

Let every Israeli terrorist and his family know that the moment he agrees to receive a monthly wage from the Palestinian Authority with their arrest, he becomes not only their employee but also their citizen and his Israeli citizenship will be revoked."

Ofir Sofer – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 14 July)

"Just came out of the vote on the "revoking of citizenship from terrorists" bill2, a bill that the anti-Zionist government chose to take down. The government, headed by Bennett and Lapid3, allows terrorists4 to return to their homes as heroes."

Nir Orbach – Member of the Knesset for the Yemina party (Facebook, 11 July)

"Today, after months of fighting, Justice has been done in Israel. The ministerial Political Security Committee approved the deduction of funds transferred to terrorists5 and/or their families from the Palestinian Authority. The terrorism funds Collection Act was enacted in 2018 but almost never applied. In short, the law states that the Security Minister sends a detailed report to the political security committee giving details of the Palestinian Authority's funds and what it has paid to the terrorists and/or their families, and the amount deducted or frozen the following year(...)"

II. Against the Indigenous Palestinian Citizens of Israel

Im Tirtzu movement6 (Twitter, 16 July)

"The security of Israel cannot rely on those who act like an enemy from within7. Operation Guardians of the Walls8 and the riots this year are a wake-up call to the dangers from people9 who not only choose to stand with our enemy10, but some of them took actual part in hurting Israelis (…)"

Amichai Chikli – MK for Yemina party (Facebook, 26 July)
 

"(…) What we experienced here was an Intifada. Nationalist-murderous uprising of people11 who want to kill Jews for being Jews, here, in the land of Israel. The police do not understand its role, it thought the role was to create calm and restore order.

"Separate the buds" the confused commissioner12 said, thinking he is the commissioner of the UN.  You are not the commissioner of the UN, you are the commander of a security force called the Israeli Police! You are tested on one thing: The personal security of the citizens of Israel. You did not achieve this? You failed."

Amichai Chikli – Member of the Knesset for the Yemina party (Facebook, 04 July)  

"The problem of violence in Arab society13 cannot be solved without solving the basic question - the Arab society's attitude towards the state of Israel. As long as there is no recognition of state institutions (…) we cannot help. The Arab community must choose whether it is part of the state of Israel or not14." 

Simcha Rothman – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 26 July)

"The riots in the mixed cities15 proved that there is no Green Line. Our enemies from outside and within16 are working against the state of Israel, as if there was no Green Line. That is why it is very important that the Land of Israel lobby work on settlements in all parts of the land, and it is time that the state of Israel treats all part of the land of Israel equally17."

 

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Facebook, 27 July)

"Someone tell this punk18 who glorifies martyrs19, that no one has to call him Sir. He wants to be a Sir, he can go to the parliament in Syria or Ramallah, they like terrorists like him there.

And if you are already talking to him, how about you update him that he may not be a symbol of a car20, but he is a symbol of terrorism, and we will do anything in our power to kick him and his terror supporting friends21 out of the Knesset."

Ofir Sofer – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 05 July)

"Whoever formed a government with the support of terrorism supporters22, after brazenly broking his promises to his voters – cannot preach morals now. Above all, it is the national responsibility not to form a government with terrorist supporters. Period23.”

Shlomo Karhi – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 06 July)

"We do not choose the opposition, but we choose the coalition, and yes, they choose24 the supporters of terrorism, anti-Zionists25, therefore they26 have no right to exist," I replied to Geula Even-Sa’ar27. We do not trust Shaked28. Abbas29 will ask for everything he pleases, and Shaked will nod and execute."

Avi Dichter – Member of Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 06 July)

"In recent days, I have worked hard among my colleagues from the Likud and the opposition to explain the implications of not passing the citizenship law30 and the expected damage to state security.

After we found out that the coalition signed an agreement with terrorism supporters31, an agreement which affords thousands of Palestinians (3000 families) a place in Israel, and after the Prime Minister declared that the voting will be a vote for confidence in the government, I voted against the government, as did the rest of the opposition.

On the parliament table is a proposed law that would put an end to the Palestinians' attempt to achieve the "right of return" through reunification (...)"

Ofir Akunis – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 14 July)

"Shame, shame on the government!!

As one, under the dictates of the Islamic Movement32, the loyal partner the United Arab List, has now blocked a proposed law to revoke citizenship or residency from terrorists receiving payments33 in exchange to their terror activities (…)"

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism (Twitter, 14 July)

"The coalition has now blocked a very important and urgent law proposal initiated by MKs Avi Dichter34 and Orit Strock35 to revoke citizenship from terrorists36, and in return has refused to postpone the vote in two weeks for the purpose of dialogue in an attempt to reach an agreement. This is what happens when you are relying on terrorism supporters37 for the survival of your government. Sad and Angering."

Avi Dichter – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 19 July)

"On the Temple Mount38 there is one sovereignty – the State of Israel.

The current government is a hostage of Arab parties39 who want to turn all Temple Mount to Al Aqsa.

The Temple Mount is in our hands. We have no intention of moving away from the Temple Mount or placing it in international hands."

Ofir Katz – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 28 July) 

"The coalition of "ten degrees to the right"40 is so afraid of losing its safety net of terrorists and terrorism supporters41, they objected to my bill which asks to remove anyone who supports those42 that hurt and kill Israeli citizens. This is a disgrace (…)"

Shlomo Karhi – MK for the Likud (Facebook, 27 July) 

"Why was Ahmad Tibi43 so upset that he was called a terrorist? He and his friends in the Joint List are proud to support terrorism and their actions against the state.

Clearly, they are terrorist supporters. His out-of-control behavior is not surprising. They feel they are the sovereignty because the fraud government depends on them for every move."

Bezalel Smotrich – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism party (Twitter, 26 July)

"Tibi44 is right. The original sin is that 54 years after the liberation of Jerusalem45 and the Temple Mount46, the Aqsa is still standing and not the Temple. And by the way, we have no interest in praying in Al Aqsa, it is outside the holy compound anyway. God willing, we will build the Temple on top of the Dome of the Rock, and Jews and non-Jews will pray in it to God. For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.47"

Galit Distel Atbaryan – Member of the Knesset for Likud party (Facebook, 20 July)

"It is okay for Ayman48 to celebrate with an ice cream49.

This certainly does not turn him into a bad human being.

He never hid his positions (which are completely opposed to the principles of the Zionist majority in Israel) (…)"

III. Against Ben & Jerry’s Decision to Stop Selling its Products in Israel’s Illegal Settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory

Nir Barkat – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 19 July)

"International Ben & Jerry's announcement to stop selling ice cream to Jews is an anti-Semitic decision. Jews are allowed to live, reside and even eat ice cream everywhere on the face of the globe and certainly on the land of our fathers."

Avi Dichter – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 23 July)

"The Shame of the occupied ice cream.

Whoever thinks that they can exclude 750,000 Israelis from the Jewish neighborhood in our capital, Jerusalem, and from the city's neighborhoods outside the 1967 line, or from the settlements of Judea and Samaria50, is wrong. Not for honey or thorns, not for ice cream, and certainly not for political guild.

The patriotic citizens of Israel, concerned with the roots of Zionism and settlement, stressed that whoever sells ice cream to Israel and will not sell it to Israelis throughout the state of Israel51, the ice cream will get stuck in their throat...

I applaud the position of the CEO of Ben & Jerry's Israel, Avi Zinger, who has refrained from stopping the sale of his products to Israelis and others who live outside the 67 borders, despite the economic price he will pay. Between his love for Israel and his love for ice cream, his decision was clear and straightforward: I love Israel! (...)"

Im Tirtzu movement (Twitter, 19 July)

"Israelis choose a different ice cream

Very simply: whoever is willing to give up legitimate areas in the country52 in order to pacify a few anti-Semitics is welcome to leave the country. Whoever does not want Israel is not welcomed here. We call for you to upload a post to kick Ben & Jerry out, and choose another ice cream."

IV. Additional Examples

Ofir Akunis – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 28 July)

"In Favor of sovereignty! I just voted in favor of applying Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.

Guess who voted against it in the plenary just now? Of course, "Yemina" and "New Hope"53…

Why? Because Abbas54 runs their government.

Sad."

Itamar Ben Gvir – Member of the Knesset for the Religious Zionism (Facebook, 24 July)

"Infuriating. Last Friday, soldiers were forced to flee from the terrorists55 who threw stones towards them. While there is no support for our soldiers, they are forced to retreat and the terrorists are celebrating. It is better that 1,000 terrorists die than it is for any soldier to be harmed."

Regavim Organization56 (Twitter, 18 July)

"Khan al Ahmar57 is not a measure of "rightness", but a litmus test of the State of Israel and its government, in a battle against the control of the Palestinian Authority in the open areas of Judea and Samaria. This was true during the time of Netanyahu, and it is true during the time of Bennett."

Nir Barkat – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 16 July)

"In the coming days, I will conduct an outreach tour in Washington and New York, where I will meet with additional members of Congress, Senators, and other executives to explain the dire consequences of opening the Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem. We will not allow the division of Jerusalem, which will remain the united capital of Israel forever and ever."

Nir Barkat – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 15 July)

"As I warned, the government of Lapid-Bennett58 intends to allow the establishment of a Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. After the first consulate, European countries will open their Palestinian consulates one by one in Jerusalem – thus Bennett and Lapid will allow the partition of Jerusalem. Yesterday I submitted a proposal for a law that would prevent this dangerous step."

Eli Cohen – Member of the Knesset for the Likud party (Facebook, 18 July)

"We will not compromise Jewish sovereignty anywhere in Jerusalem, nor will we waive the right of every Jew to ascend to the most sacred place of the people of Israel. Unlike Muslims, who pray toward Mecca even while on the Temple Mount, Jews all over the world pray towards Jerusalem, the capital of the Jewish people, forever and always."

• 1. In April 2021, Knesset members Avi Dichter of the Likud and Orit Stook of the Religious Zionism party submitted a draft bill to the Knesset to revoke citizenship or residency rights from Palestinian prisoners who receive monthly social allowances from the Palestinian National Authority. The bill targets Palestinians of Jerusalem and Palestinian citizens of Israel. On July 14th 2021 the bill failed to pass in the preliminary reading in the Knesset. See: https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/07/15/knesset-rejects-bill-to-strip-ter...
• 2. Ibid
• 3. In reference to the PM Naftali Bennett and substitute PM Yair Lapid
• 4. In reference to Palestinian prisoners
• 5. In reference to the Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli so called security cabinet voted to withhold 597 million NIS from the Palestinian National Authority’s tax revenues that Israel collects on its behalf. See : https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-withhold-nearly-nis-600-million-...
• 6. An Israeli right-wing (non-profit) Zionist organization
• 7. In reference to the Joint List and United Arab List parties in the Knesset
• 8. In reference to Israel’s operation against Gaza Strip in May 2021
• 9. In reference to Palestinian citizens of Israel
• 10. In reference to the Palestinian people
• 11. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of Israel who carried out protests during May 2021 against Israel’s aggression on Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip
• 12. In reference to Kobi Shabtai who described Palestinians as “Buds”
• 13. In reference to Palestinian citizens of Israel
• 14. Amichai Chikli’s post comes in the context of demonstrations by the Palestinian citizens of Israel against Israel’s aggression back in May 2021
• 15. In reference to the protests carried out by Palestinian citizens of Israel
• 16. In reference to the Palestinian citizens of Israel and the Palestinians in occupied Palestine
• 17. In reference to Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank
• 18. In reference to Ahmad Tibi MK from the Joint List party
• 19. In reference to Palestinian martyrs
• 20. Ben Gvir says that Tibi is not popular person like ‘symbol of car’ but he is a ‘symbol of terrorism’
• 21. In reference to other members of Joint List party
• 22. Sofer criticizes the right wing parties Yemina and New Hope for forming a coalition with the United Arab List party that Sofer describes its members as ‘terrorism supporters’ for supporting Palestinian rights
• 23. The post comes in the context of the vote on the Citizenship and Entry to Israel Law and the request of PM Naftali Bennett from the opposition to show some responsibility and vote in favor of the law
• 24. In reference to Yemina and New Hope parties
• 25. In reference to the Knesset members of the United Arab List party
• 26. In reference to the Israeli government/ coalition as a whole
• 27. An Israeli journalist and a former anchor on Israeli radio and television
• 28. In reference to Ayelet Shaked, the Minister of Interior
• 29. In reference to MK Mansour Abbas of the United Arab List party
• 30. In reference to the Citizenship and Entry to Israel Law that was passed in 2003 and later extended on annual basis. Based on this law, Palestinians from the occupied West Bank or the Gaza Strip that are married to Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinian residents of occupied Jerusalem are not allowed to have citizenship or residency rights in Israel. The Knesset voted against the renewal of the law on 5 July 2021
• 31. In reference to the Knesset members of the United Arab List party
• 32. In reference to the United Arab List party
• 33. In reference to the monthly social allowances paid by Palestinian National Authority to Palestinian prisoners, martyrs, and their families
• 34. MK for the Likud party
• 35. MK for the Religious Zionism party
• 36. In reference to Palestinian prisoners
• 37. In reference to the United Arab List party
• 38. In reference to Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound
• 39. In reference to the United Arab List party and the Joint List party
• 40. The Likud party has been using the term “10 degrees to the right” against the right wing parties that are part of the governmental coalition. The term aims to delegitimize the right wing party for forming a coalition with left wing parties and the United Arab List party
• 41. In reference to both members of the Knesset from the Joint List and the United Arab List parties
• 42. In reference to the Palestinians. Katz proposed a bill to oust Knesset members who support Palestinians just rights
• 43. MK of the Joint List party
• 44. In reference to MK for the Joint List Ahmad Tibi.
• 45. In reference to Naksa , 1967 war in which Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip
• 46. In reference to Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound
• 47. Verse from Isaiah 56:7 : Meaning when the Messiah comes, people from every nation on the earth will be welcome to taste the goodness of God’s salvation. Even to those who were currently excluded
• 48. MK Ayman Odeh, the Chairman of the Joint List
• 49. In the context of Ben & Jerry’s decision not to sell their products in Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, declaring that this is “inconsistent with the company’s values”
• 50. In reference to the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine
• 51. In reference to Israel’s illegal settlers in the occupied West Bank
• 52. In reference to Israel’s illegal settlements in occupied Palestine
• 53. Yemina and New Hope are right wings parties that are part of the current Israeli governmental coalition
• 54. In reference to MK Mansour Abbas, Chairman of the United Arab List party
• 55. In reference to the Palestinians demonstrating against the illegal colonization of Sbeih mountain in Nablus Governorate
• 56. A right-wing settler organization operating in the occupied West Bank of the State of Palestine.
• 57. A Palestinian Bedouin village on the eastern gateway to Jerusalem that is facing the imminent threat of forcible transfer by the occupying Power, Israel
• 58. In reference to PM Naftali Bennett and substitute PM Yair Lapid