The White House said Sunday it “strongly condemns” pro-Palestinian mobs in Russia who flooded an airport as they chanted antisemitic chants and reportedly searched for passengers from a flight departing from Tel Aviv, Israel.
The airport, located in the city of Makhachkala in the Republic of Dagestan, was closed after rioters began flooding the runway Sunday night, Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia reported. All other flights bound for Makhachkala have been diverted.
In the first public comments made by the Biden administration since the incident, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said the US condemned “antisemitic protests” at airports in Russia.
“The United States strongly condemns antisemitic protests in Dagestan, Russia,” Watson wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The US firmly stands with the entire Jewish community as we witness the rise of antisemitism around the world. There has never been an excuse or justification for antisemitism.”
The United States strongly condemns antisemitic protests in Dagestan, Russia. The US firmly stands with the entire Jewish community as we witness a worldwide surge in antisemitism. There is never an excuse or justification for antisemitism.
— Adrienne Watson (@NSC_Spox) October 30, 2023
Many users on X criticized Watson’s post for referring to the riots as “protests,” with some responding that the correct term is “pogrom,” meaning an attack on a specific ethnic group, especially Jews.
During the riots, a small number of Israelis were “isolated” at the airport as mobs were heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” and antisemitic slogans, according to Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation reporter Amichai Stein.
The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem told Reuters that an Israeli ambassador to Russia was working with authorities to protect Israelis in the region.
Law enforcement personnel prevent protesters from breaching the airport fence information in Makhachkala on Oct. 29. 2023. Telegram / @askrasul/AFP via Getty Images
“The State of Israel takes seriously attempts to harm Israelis and Jews anywhere,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Israel expects Russian law enforcement authorities to protect all Israeli citizens and Jews, whoever they may be, and to take decisive action against rioters and against uncontrolled incitement directed at Jews and Israelis.”
The majority of people in Dagestan are Muslim while Jews represent a minority group in Russia – comprising about 83,000 people across the country.
People chant antisemitic slogans at the airport airport in Makhachkala, Russia, on Oct. 30. 2023. AP protesters on the apron area of an airport in Makhachkala were spotted on 29 Oct. 2023. Telegram / @askrasul/ AFP via Getty Images
Riots at Russian airports come amid an ongoing war in the Middle East between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists.
More than 9,400 people have been killed on both sides since Hamas launched its biggest attack on Israel in decades on October 7, prompting the Israeli army to respond.
Thousands more have been injured, and many more have been taken hostage by Hamas and raped, tortured and killed.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
