The Israeli extreme right, neo-fascist movement LeHava organized a night of violence for this evening in Jerusalem.
They're circulating these instructions:
Dress in white shirts & black pants
Don't bring a phone
"Careful" w/ your weapons when passing in the bus station
Wear a mask even where it isn't needed
@SuleimanMas1 pic.twitter.com/vR3xvA6vaY
— Uri Agnon (@UriAgnon) April 22, 2021
LeHava is one of the most recent incarnations of Meir Kahane’s Jewish supremacist movement and is represented in Knesset, thanks to Bibi normalizing them in his quest to remain in power and out of prison, by the Jewish Power Party.
"Reminder that Lehava has a political wing in the Knesset– Itamar Ben Gvir, who our prime minister ensured would be there." Chaim Levinson. https://t.co/vqfr9dHp7m
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) April 22, 2021
The Jewish far right on the march in Jerusalem this evening, chanting 'Death to Arabs' and 'The people want Arabs to burn'. Proudly identifying as followers of uktra-racist Meir Kahane, they're now represented in the Knesset by the 'Jewish Power' partyhttps://t.co/KDDGgWv4fO
— Esther Solomon (@EstherSolomon) April 22, 2021
Noga Tanopolsky, a journalist covering Israeli and Palestinian issues, has been covering the events in Jerusalem in real time on her Twitter feed. She’s in Jerusalem right now. Here’s some of it and since this is tweet heavy, I’m going to put a good chunk below the jump:
“Does ‘Burn their towns’, ‘Death to Arabs,’ represent you?” star reporter @SuleimanMas1 asks young Lehava marcher. “Maybe more like ‘when you leave the towns we’ll move in– like we’re doing in the Old City!’” she tells Maswadeh, who grew up in the Old City pic.twitter.com/TwS5VOUOrX
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) April 22, 2021
In the Old City, not far from the Kahanist march on Damascus Gate, an Arab family has been attacked by what look like young yeshiva boys. Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/j7HUkmv6Yd
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) April 22, 2021
National broadcaster @kann_news is calling this “The March of Hate.” Lehava goons throw rocks at police as security forces attempt to keep them from breaking police barriers near Damascus Gate & attacking Palestinian counter demonstrators. pic.twitter.com/YLGffGUl2p
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) April 22, 2021
Hundreds of racist extremists attempt to break police barriers, screaming "Burn the Arabs!" (Loose translation.) Police only push them back. Fifty meters away, on other side of barrier, police use shock grenades & skunk water against Palestinian counter demonstrators. https://t.co/tSN2HypTTc
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) April 22, 2021
Something to remember next time Netanyahu speaks of the sanctity of Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/TS2QnroAbh
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) April 22, 2021
1 AM: Hundreds of Lehava extremists continue to clash with police & hunt down victims in downtown Jerusalem. I’m hearing sirens. https://t.co/oL5gtU7ZEl
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) April 22, 2021
Jerusalem is burning and not a word is heard from the prime minister https://t.co/qe7SUdo9E1
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) April 22, 2021
This has, of course, led to some of Jerusalem’s Arab citizens to respond in kind:
Police spox says Jewish man in disturbing video was pelted by rocks while driving and was attacked when he attempted to escape the mob on foot. His car was incinerated. (Not Wadi Joz, but near Rockefeller Museum not far from Damascus Gate.) pic.twitter.com/kV19Qr6SRq
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) April 22, 2021
3:30 AM The Lehava hooligans have moved up to Mahane Yehuda, Jerusalem’s central market, where a group of them surrounded Palestinian workers getting the market ready for Friday crowds. pic.twitter.com/wT1grbEOkZ
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) April 23, 2021
The only good news is that, as I’ve written about here before, Israel has very strict laws regulating who can own a firearm. This would be much worse if Israeli firearm laws were like the US’s.
This is somehow appropriate right now*:
I’ll monitor what is going on for a bit and update if anything significant occurs.
Open thread!
* Yerushalayim Shel Barzel/Jerusalem of Iron was written and originally performed by Meir Ariel, one of the Israeli paratroopers who took the Old City of Jerusalem during the 6 Day War.
Meir Ariel started his career at the time of the Six Day War in 1967.
He was one of the paratroopers who set the Old City of Jerusalem free.
He was nicknamed ‘The Singing Paratrooper’ (Hatzanchan Hamezamer).After the war he composed a protest takeoff of the song , same music, but totally different lyrics.
He wanted to emphasize the dark aspect of the war, as he, a fighting paratrooper, saw it.
More about the song at the link.
Cheryl Rofer
Thanks, Adam. I saw some of the tweets and was wondering what this was about.
Adam L Silverman
@Cheryl Rofer: Absolute stupidity, that’s what it’s about.
Cheryl Rofer
And btw, I am seeing more discussion of Grossman and his tactics on Twitter.
Cheryl Rofer
@Adam L Silverman: Absolute stupidity and vicious racism.
Adam L Silverman
@Cheryl Rofer: He’s been bouncing around on twitter for a couple of days, which is why I did the post earlier.
Adam L Silverman
@Cheryl Rofer: No arguments from me.
Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.)
Jesús Marimba… Makes me wonder if that country has a future.
Another Scott
Heh. They’re missing out!!
Cheers,
Scott.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
Remember when Republicans and Democrats came together in several states within the past few years back and passed anti-BDS laws? That it was “antisemitic”? That sure has aged like fucking milk, hasn’t it?
Ohio Mom
I’ve said this before. I believe that one day far in the future, the organized American Jewish community will realize that their constant boosterism of Israel turned off and turned away a good portion of their potential membership.
I am done, done, done with Israel. I am already the citizen of one deeply flawed nation state, I don’t need to adopt another.
Adam L Silverman
@Ohio Mom: Perhaps a time share or just fostering if you’re not ready to adopt?
NotMax
It really would be a nice courtesy to put a significant percentage of long, long posts like this below the fold.
/just stating one reader’s opinion
Adam L Silverman
@NotMax: I did put the majority of it below the fold. I even put in the post I was putting it below the fold.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Another Scott: Here in Southern California we set the county on fire for gender reveals.
neldob
time to wear my BDS pin loud and proud. It is a little scary wearing it, like I’m a target.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Adam L Silverman:Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate.
Adam L Silverman
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Do not get me started…
rikyrah
I did not understand. Now, I do.
Thanks Silverman.
Bill Arnold
Any predictions about political effects?
Haaretz and The Times of Israel have reported on it so far. (English search keywords FWIW.)
Dozens Injured, More Than 30 Arrested in anti-Arab Clashes in Jerusalem – Hundreds of Jewish far-right activists from Jerusalem’s Zion Square on Thursday night toward the Old City, where attendees were shouting ‘death to Arabs’ (Nir Hasson, updated Apr. 23, 2021)
Dozens hurt in Old City clash as extremist Jews march chanting ‘Death to Arabs’ (2021/04/23)
(Yeah, I’m petty and want to see Netanyahu separated from the levers of power.)
Adam L Silverman
@rikyrah: Did not understand what?
Cheryl Rofer
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Cheryl Rofer:
Maddening, isn’t it? The same people who criticize the BDS campaign as “antisemitic” and pass laws to hinder it are apparently willing to overlook the Israeli government’s human rights abuses against Palestinians and ignore the growing extremism of the Israeli political sphere
Mary G
I’ll go the full Godwin and say that it looks like Israel is in danger of becoming what it was established to avoid in the first place.
Ohio Mom
Adam,
I wish Israel and her neighbors peace and prosperity, the same I do for the rest of the world.
But I don’t want my spiritual life to have to center on Israel and it is pretty hard to ignore the Israel-centric programming of so much of American synagogue life. And I suspect there are many, many others who feel the same.
It’s ironic because Jewish leadership once thought that centering Israel would bring new meaning to American Jewish life.
Sister Golden Bear
Can’t help but be reminded of a certain other night of mob wilding.
NotMax
@BillinGlendaleCA
Long since defunct guild I began with one of my alternate characters in WoW was named Fold Spindle & Mutilate.
;)
@Adam L Silverman
Don’t want to make a thing out of it, merely one old coot’s observation, however still 4 screens and change* to scroll down on the front page before getting to the fold, which pushes everything else way down. 2+ screens below the fold. And that’s with having nothing but text showing in tweets.
*Will vary, natch, dependent on font size set in one’s browser. Elder eyes = larger font.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
Did I overstep with my comments on this thread?
JWR
@Ohio Mom: I am done, done, done with Israel
Same here. But it’s weird, back in 1967 or so, the Baptist church I went to took a short walk to the Synagogue just down the street, and I found it incredibly warm, welcoming and just beautiful. This was about when we ended our nightly prayers with “pray for peace to the Middle East”. Back then, I thought of Israel as a beacon of everything right and good in the world, but no more, primarily, I think, because of Netanyahu and his ilk.
Ohio Mom
Mary G:
From the very beginning, a few farsighted people recognized the conflicts that would need to be addressed, and then weren’t addressed well.
Add to that the schisms within Jewish Israel — the Jews from Europe vs the Jews from the Middle East, the secular vs. the ultra-orthodox — it is a complex, hot mess. Which Adam could explain much better than I can.
Anoniminous
Same Old/Same Old
Adam L Silverman
@Bill Arnold: Tzipi Hotolevi (or however that is spelled), the Israeli Ambassador to Britain, funds LeHava. Right now she’s distancing herself. However, neither Bibi nor anyone else in his governing coalition has said anything yet. My guess is that Bibi is trying to figure out how this will play and then try to capitalize on it regardless of which way it goes.
Poe Larity
@Cheryl Rofer: It sounds better in the original German.
Ohio Mom
Goku, Relax.
Adam L Silverman
@Cheryl Rofer: Absolutely correct. And it isn’t something that started recently. I’ve been tracking this stuff since I was assigned to work on Israeli-Palestinian issues at US Army Europe by the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Middle East Peace in 2014.
Adam L Silverman
@Ohio Mom: I was kidding.
I also understand.
NotMax
@NotMax
And please feel freer than normal to ignore me. Injected arm out of the blue decided to flare up something awful and am having a Mr. Crankypants day.
Adam L Silverman
@Sister Golden Bear: Yep.
Adam L Silverman
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): No. Believe me, I’ll let you know.
Adam L Silverman
@Ohio Mom: Not at this hour.
Martin
Huh, you think that at a time when the US is making overtures to Iran, that you might not want to do something to cast them in a better light.
NotMax
@Ohio Mom
Tossed into the pot are also a python-swallowed-a-lamb demographic influx from the former Soviet Union and a numerically smaller one from Africa.
Bill Arnold
@Ohio Mom:
Also those from the former Soviet Union. And the low-level conflicts (/acts of war) with Iran are both quite dangerous and have broad approval. (TBH I haven’t looked for polling.)
(And the Israeli RW worked hard (with partial success) to make support for Israel a partisan thing in the USA , which is not easily forgiven.)
Ohio Mom
Oh yes, the Russians who saw an escape route out of the USSR by searching their family tree for Jewish roots they could claim.
They know not from democracy but they are white and support the right wing of Israeli politics.
Mary G
@Anoniminous: Wow, I don’t usually last long through videos, but that one kept me all way through despite my irrational dislike of Andy Williams,
Adam L Silverman
@Bill Arnold: @Ohio Mom: And that’s why Israel is the southern distribution node for the Russian mob to traffic women for the sex trade. From Israel they go east, west, and farther south (Saudi).
Alison Rose
Maybe Jews in Israel enjoy making the world hate us even more, but this Jew in America would really like them to fucking can it already.
Raven Onthill
Fuuuuuuck.
Thank you for the clarity.
Bill Arnold
@Adam L Silverman:
She made the news yesterday, too. (Though not in the UK press??) :
In First, Zionist Youth Movement in U.K. to Boycott Israeli Ambassador – Conservative Jewish movement Noam members are refusing to participate in an online conversation with Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to the U.K., because of her political and religious views (Judy Maltz, Apr. 21, 2021)
There are some ill feelings in the UK about Israeli RW political interference.
SiubhanDuinne
@Anoniminous:
Wow. That’s … wow.
SiubhanDuinne
@NotMax:
Same here. I was feeling fine — exhilarated, almost — when suddenly, at 7:20 pm, I felt enormous fatigue and ended up crashing for six straight hours. Just woke up half an hour ago with a shoulder that feels like the worst attack of bursitis you can imagine.
All in a good cause, but yowza.
HumboldtBlue
Among all the noise, this happened a year ago.
cain
JFC, just intolerable. I knew when Bibi took over that Israeli had shit the bed and will continue to shit the bed. I think soon they are going to be a danger to all their neighbors and I hope we are smart enough to distance ourselves from them.
Tony Jay
@Bill Arnold:
Of course not. The entire UK Press and most of the political and cultural establishment just spent years cynically equating opposition to far-Right Israeli politics with antisemitism, and in the process made the whole issue into a lethal third-rail. The Tories don’t care and the Labour leadership are scared shitless of having their former allies turn on them if they utter a peep of condemnation. Hell, I run the risk of being expelled from the Party just for saying this.
No, you won’t hear much about this in the UK Press.
NotMax
@SiubhanDuinne
Trust me, it gets better. Assuming Thursday (shot #1 +10) was a last gasp “remember me?” anomaly.
Dan B
Years ago I had a roommate, Palestinian from Gaza. He worked for one of the big investment firms, Price Waterhouse Cooper. He’d had a tough time, in liberal small Jewish community Seattle, finding a place to rent. He was not gay friendly but nobody else would even talk to him. He got gay friendly fast when the light bulb turned on that LGBTQ people and other minorities were subject to misplaced prejudice. And that we had zero interest in seducing him.
However, I went to a gathering of guys from the middle east, primarily Muslim Palestinians. A Jewish activist showed up to express his support for their cause of justice. Ali told me that the guys were dissing him brutally in Arabic. Ali thought it was fun that he was verbally harassed without his knowledge. I let him know that they were not helping their cause by their testosterone fueled pranks and that attacking allies would backfire seriously. Ali dismissed my words.
Sigh…
Joey Maloney
@Ohio Mom: I am done, done, done with Israel.
Me too, and I fucking live here.
Ian R
@Ohio Mom: The constant focus on Israel, Israel, and Israel is a large part of why I left. (Orthodox for the first 25 years or so of my life.)
Geminid
One good piece of news out of Israel is that Netanyahu has not been able to form a government, and it looks like he can’t. His mandate expires May 4.
The new Knesset contains the elements of an anti-Netanyahu “national unity” government. It would involve two liberal parties (Meretz and Labor), two center parties (Yesh Atid and Blue and White), and three right wing parties (Lieberman’s, Bennet’s, and Saar’s). The potential “unity” of such ideologically diverse groups lies in the fact that they are all fed up with Netanyahu. But if these parties cannot form a coalition, it’s on to a fifth election.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s corruption trial is ongoing. But observers say that between trial and appeals, the three cases against Netanyahu may not finally be resolved for two years, if not three.
LiminalOwl (formerly The Fat White Duchess)
Why tf am I not seeing anything about this in Google News?
Thank you very much, Adam, for helping me to be better informed. I am in tears but that’s far better than ignorance.
After the 2016, I started attending temple for the first time in my adult life. And now… this is the sort of thing that made me distance as far from Judaism as I could. The temple is Reform and politically liberal, and the people I hang out with likewise. I have never heard a word in support of Bibi and those of his ilk. But they still (within limits) support Israel. And if nobody speaks up about this horror…
Geminid
@LiminalOwl (formerly The Fat White Duchess): The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post have good coverage of last night’s street violence in Jerusalem. So does liberal Haaretz. Haaretz is paywalled, but I find some articles available in full. Haaretz is especially forthright in reporting injustices done to Palestinians.