Several incidents hostile to Israel and tinged with anti-Semitism took place in the Caucasus, in three Russian republics with a Muslim majority, on October 28 and 29. These events, which are above all a reaction to Israeli-Palestinian news, are particularly worrying and highlight the specificities of this region.
On October 28, in the Republic of Dagestan, hundreds of people flooded Makhachkala airport in search of “Israelis” or “Jews.” Armed with Palestinian flags and chanting “Allah akbar”, these individuals forced the airport gates and took to the tarmac. Some passengers were stuck on planes for several hours, while others were arrested and assaulted by the attackers.
In the town of Khasavyurt, also in Dagestan, a crowd gathered in front of a hotel to ensure that no Israelis were staying there. Similar incidents also took place in front of the kyiv Hotel. Furthermore, in Cherkessk, the capital of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, people openly demanded “the expulsion of the Jews” during a rally in support of Palestine.
On October 29, a Jewish cultural center under construction was set on fire in Nalchik, the capital of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. The perpetrators of this criminal act sprayed “death to the Jews” on the walls of the building, revealing the anti-Semitic and hateful nature of their act.
These incidents are undeniably linked to Israeli-Palestinian news, but it is important to note that their initial intention may not have been to target local Jews. Nevertheless, they raise questions about the rise of anti-Semitism in the Caucasus region and highlight the need to combat these acts of hatred and prevent such incidents in the future.
It is crucial that the Russian authorities take firm measures to punish those responsible for these attacks and guarantee the safety of Jewish communities in these regions. Discrimination and violence based on religion or ethnic origin are unacceptable and must be condemned without reservation.