Incitement Report for August 2017: Examples of recent inflammatory comments and incitement by Israeli officials and leaders
PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi
“The real incitement stems from Israel’s military occupation of Palestine and its enslavement of an entire nation. The Israeli hardline extremist government led by Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for generating a culture of hate and racism in Israel, inciting violence and feeding extremism. Updated regularly, this report includes samples of recent derogatory and inflammatory comments and incitement by Israeli government officials and leaders specifically meant to distort reality and mislead public opinion.”
Examples of recent inflammatory comments and incitement by Israeli officials and leaders:
President Reuven Rivlin: “Every pioneer must maintain eye contact with the public. Otherwise he would not survive. The mountain must be connected to the coastal plain and the pioneers of Judea and Samaria [Occupied West Bank] must be connected to the people of Hasharon, Tel Aviv and Gush Dan.” (August 31, 2017)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “From [the settlement of] Beit El will come forth Torah and good tidings - the message of the return of the people to its land, the message of settlement. I will give you more good tidings. Very soon another 300 [settlement] housing units will be approved, as promised.” (August 29, 2017)
“We are here to stay, forever… There will be no more uprooting of settlements in the land of Israel. It has been proven that it does not help peace... We've uprooted settlements. What did we get? We received missiles. It will not happen anymore.” (August 28, 2017)
“So we will not fold. We are guarding Samaria [Occupied West Bank] against those who want to uproot us. We will deepen our roots, build, strengthen and settle.” (August 28, 2017)
“Now, I know that what I'm saying upsets some people. For example, we heard the day before yesterday that senior Palestinian officials, and I quote, “are looking forward to Netanyahu's fall because of the investigations." Obviously, they also want Israel to withdraw to the '67 lines and establish a Palestinian state on the outskirts of Kfar Saba. My friends, they too will be disappointed, because it won't happen.” (August 9, 2017)
“No other government has done as much for settlement in the land of Israel as the government which I lead... Our generation has succeeded in achieving what past generations only dreamed about ... We have returned to our home land, and have turned it once again into a land of milk and honey.” (August 3, 2017)
Education Minister and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett: “In the late 1970s, even when the Labor Party was in power, they established more and more new settlements. It all stopped in the 1990s. I understand that there were those who spoke about the vision of a Palestinian state, but today it is clear to everyone that that can no longer be. And since there will never be [a Palestinian state], it is time to change the basics of the situation.” (August 29, 2017)
“The time has come to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria [Occupied West Bank]. I call on you, Mr. Prime Minister: we are behind you in taking this Zionist step of applying sovereignty, and it will then be possible to restore the momentum of construction [of settlements].” (August 29, 2017)
“I know that some people will not like it in Europe. When Beit El was built, President Carter was angry. So he was angry and we went on and there are 6,500 people here. No matter what they say anywhere, no one will stop us. Our vision is a million residents in Judea and Samaria [Occupied West Bank].” (August 29, 2017)
“We shouldn't need permits, building [settlements] in Judea and Samaria [Occupied West Bank] should be unrestricted. The freedom to build in our country.” (August 28, 2017)
Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel: “The [Beit El] settlement has grown over the years, but not enough, there should live here five or ten times as many people as now live here. So that Ramallah would look like a small neighborhood compared to it.” (August 29, 2017)
Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan: “Jewish settlement in eastern Jerusalem is taking place in the heart of biblical Jerusalem, overlooking the Temple Mount, the holiest place to the Jewish people… I get excited each time I see Jewish families who understand what we all need to understand – that our sovereignty in the State of Israel and the Land of Israel begins here.. I will continue to do my best to make sure that any family that chooses to live here [Occupied East Jerusalem] sis able to do so in complete security.” (August 27, 2017)
Knesset Member Avraham Neguise (Likud Party): “We want to absorb many new immigrants, and in order to do so we will have to build a lot [of settlements] in Judea and Samaria [Occupied West Bank] as well." (August 29, 2017)
Knesset Member Shuli Moalem (Jewish Home Party): “Beit El will be the beginning of the renewal of [settlement] construction momentum in Jerusalem and throughout Judea and Samaria [Occupied West Bank].” (August 28, 2017)
Knesset Member Nava Boker (Likud Party): “This [Palestinian] population understands only force, and if we act hard and demonstrate deterrence and determination, they will think twice.” (August 22, 2017)