Protests were held at the airport in Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan.
The White House stated Sunday that it “vigorously condemns” a group of pro-Palestinian rioters in Russia who apparently crowded an airport while chanting anti-Semitic chants and hunting for passengers from a flight that departed from Tel Aviv, Israel.
The airport in Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, was closed when protesters began flooding the runway Sunday night, according to Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia. All other flights bound for Makhachkala were rerouted.
The Biden administration’s first public reaction after the incident came from White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, who stated the US condemns the “antisemitic protests” at the airport in Russia.
“The United States vigorously condemns the antisemitic protests in Dagestan, Russia,” Watson tweeted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The United States unequivocally supports the entire Jewish community as we witness a worldwide rise in antisemitism.” There is no explanation or apology for antisemitism.”
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Many X users chastised Watson’s post for referring to the incident as a “protest,” with others responding that the accurate phrase would be “pogrom,” which refers to attacks on certain ethnic groups, mainly Jews.
According to Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reporter Amichai Stein, a small handful of Israelis were “isolated” at the airport during the disturbance as rioters were heard chanting “Allahu Akbar” and antisemitic slurs.
According to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, an Israeli envoy in Russia is collaborating with authorities to protect Israelis in the region.
“The State of Israel views gravely attempts to harm Israeli citizens and Jews anywhere,” the Foreign Ministry stated in a statement. “Israel expects the Russian law enforcement authorities to safeguard all Israeli citizens and Jews, whoever they may be, and to take robust action against the rioters and against the unbridled incitement being directed at Jews and Israelis.”
The majority of Dagestan’s citizens are Muslim, but Jews are a minority demographic in Russia, accounting for around 83,000 individuals across the country.
The incident at the Russian airport occurs against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists.
Since Hamas launched its deadliest onslaught against Israel in decades on Oct. 7, Israeli forces have killed almost 9,400 people on both sides. Thousands more have been injured, and many more have been kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by Hamas.
