In a statement, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Russian authorities to provide protection to Israelis and Jews in their territories. This is related to reports of anti-Semitic riots in Dagestan in southern Russia. The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) said the airport in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, was closed after a group of people stormed the runway.
A statement from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the ambassador Israel in Moscow cooperates with the Russian authorities. “The State of Israel takes seriously attempts to harm Israeli citizens and Jews anywhere,” the statement said.
“Israel expects Russian law enforcement agencies to protect all Israeli citizens and Jews, whoever they are, and to take decisive action against rioters and unbridled incitement against Jews and Israelis,” it stressed.
Reports of the seizure of the runway at the airport in Makhachkala
The statement from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs followed reports on Sunday evening regarding the situation at the airport in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, in the south of Russia. Dagestan is an autonomous, mostly Muslim republic that is part of the Russian Federation.
As RIA Novosti writes, after the Red Wings plane arrived from Tel Aviv, “a crowd of people ran onto the runway.” The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) said that Makhachkala airport was temporarily closed to arrivals and departures. The Meduza portal reported that several dozen protesters entered the terminal building and also tried to break the fence surrounding the airport. According to reports and recordings posted on the Internet, before entering the terminal, some of the rioters tried to check the passports of people leaving the airport in search of Israeli citizens, and also had posters with anti-Semitic slogans.
Reports of a wave of anti-Semitic incidents
As reported by the independent Russian website Meduza, in recent days there has been a “wave of anti-Semitic incidents” in the North Caucasus. On Saturday, in the city of Khasavyurt in Dagestan, residents demonstrated in front of a hotel due to reports that Israeli refugees were staying there.
The Governor of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, said that the entire situation was caused by “disinformation from outside” “spread by Russia’s enemies” and said that the people involved were “enthusiasts” who “allowed themselves to be manipulated.” However, he added that “the incident does not reflect well on Mr [sprawcach]”. He called on Dagestanis to “counteract all attempts to divide society.” “Today our prayers are with the people of Palestine,” Melikov also stated.
The Coordination Center for Muslims in the North Caucasus condemned anti-Semitic actions. It expressed its support for Palestine, but emphasized that “Muslims from the North Caucasus cannot side with hatred and intolerance towards other nations and religions.” It was added that “anti-Semitism has no place in the region.”
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