The White House said Sunday that it “strongly condemns” the group of pro-Palestinian rioters in Russia who flooded an airport while shouting anti-Semitic chants and allegedly searching for passengers on a flight that departed from Tel Aviv, Israel.
The airport, located in the city of Makhachkala in the Republic of Dagestan, closed after rioters began flooding the runway on Sunday night, Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia reported. All other flights bound for Makhachkala were diverted.
In the first public comment made by the Biden administration since the incident, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said the United States condemns the “anti-Semitic protests” at the Russian airport.
“The United States strongly condemns the anti-Semitic protests in Dagestan, Russia,” Watson wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The United States unequivocally stands with the entire Jewish community as we witness a global rise in anti-Semitism. “There is never any excuse or justification for anti-Semitism.”
The United States strongly condemns the anti-Semitic protests in Dagestan, Russia. The United States unequivocally stands with the entire Jewish community as we witness a global rise in anti-Semitism. There is never any excuse or justification for anti-Semitism.
– Adrienne Watson (@NSC_Spox) October 30, 2023
Many X users criticized Watson’s post for referring to the riots as a “protest”, with some people responding that the correct term would be “pogrom”, meaning attacks on particular ethnic groups, particularly Jews.
During the riots, a small number of Israelis were “isolated” at the airport while rioters could be heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” and anti-Semitic 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.
This screenshot taken from a video from October 29, 2023 shows protesters running in the apron area of an airport in Makhachkala. Telegram / @askrasul/AFP via Getty Images Law enforcement personnel prevent protesters from breaking through an airport fence in Makhachkala on October 29, 2023. Telegram / @askrasul/AFP via Getty Images
“The State of Israel views with seriousness attempts to harm Israeli citizens and Jews anywhere,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Israel expects Russian law enforcement authorities to safeguard all Israeli citizens and Jews, whoever they are, and to take strong action against rioters and against rampant incitement directed at Jews and Israelis.”
The majority of residents in Dagestan are Muslims, while Jews represent a minority group in Russia: they account for approximately 83,000 people throughout the country.
People shout anti-Semitic slogans on an airfield at Makhachkala airport, Russia, on October 30, 2023. AP Protesters on the apron of a Makhachkala airport are seen on October 29, 2023. Telegram / @askrasul / AFP via Getty Images
The riots at the Russian airport come amid the 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 Israeli forces to respond.
Thousands more have been injured and many others have been taken hostage by Hamas and raped, tortured and murdered.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn