US, Ukraine, and NATO Strongly Condemn 'Anti-Semitic Aggression' in Russia as an Angry Mob Storms a Dagestan Airport in Search of Israelis

The White House has issued a statement strongly condemning a group of pro-Palestinian militants in Russia who took over an airport, chanted anti-Semitic slogans, and sought passengers from a flight departing from Tel Aviv, Israel. The airport, located in the city of Makhachkala in the Russian Republic of Dagestan, was closed after the insurgents took to the runway on Sunday evening. All other flights heading to Makhachkala were diverted to different cities.

In the first public comment on the incident, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson stated that the United States denounces 'anti-Semitic protests' in Dagestan, Russia. Watson wrote on what was formerly known as Twitter, 'The United States strongly condemns the anti-Semitic protests in Dagestan, Russia. The US unequivocally supports the entire Jewish community as we witness a global surge in anti-Semitism. There is never any excuse or justification for anti-Semitism.'

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his shock over the scenes in Russia's Dagestan, where an angry mob stormed the airport in search of Israelis arriving from Tel Aviv. 

'This is not an isolated incident in Makhachkala, but rather a part of the culture of hatred towards other nations that is propagated by state television, experts, and authorities in Russia,' he said. 'Over the past year, the Russian Foreign Minister has made a series of anti-Semitic statements. The Russian president has also used anti-Semitic imagery,' the President of Ukraine noted.

Yesterday's unrest at the Makhachkala airport is a result of the hatred fuelled by Russian propaganda, according to NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence Director Janis Sarts, as reported by Delfi. According to Sarts, the clashes are one manifestation of the radicalization of Russian society. 

'Russian media incite hatred against Ukrainians, the West, and now against Israel. Tensions are rising in Russia, and Dagestan is one of the places where many of those who perished in Ukraine came from,' Sarts said, adding that the events in Makhachkala did not come as a particular surprise.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem told Reuters that the Israeli ambassador to Russia is working with authorities to protect Israelis in the region. 

'The State of Israel takes seriously attempts to harm Israeli citizens and Jews anywhere,' the Foreign Ministry said. 'Israel expects that the Russian law enforcement agencies will protect all Israeli citizens and Jews, whoever they are, and take decisive action against the insurgents and unbridled incitement targeting Jews and Israelis.'

The majority of residents in Russia's Dagestan practice Islam, and Jews are a minority in Russia. The uprising at the Dagestan airport took place against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between the Israeli military and Hamas terrorists. Dagestani insurgents thus condemned Israel's self-defence against Hamas' terrorist war.