The Tip of the Iceberg
(Russian Neo-Nazis in Israel)
On April 21st, 2003, the newspaper The Russian Israeli informed its readers about the appearance of the first Israeli Nazi website on the internet called “B.E.I. (‘kill’) – The White Union of Israel.” The event sparked a firestorm of controversy kindled in internet chat forums and fueled, thereafter, in the newspapers. The boisterous discussion continued even after the authors of the site, scared by the public attention, hid away their little creature from eyes’ view.
The uproar reached its crescendo on June 22nd, 2003, when the Minister of Interior, Tommy Lapid, announced at a government session that a neo-nazi network composed of immigrants from the CIS is operating in Israel. The following day, worried by the far-reaching conclusions that could be inferred from his statement, Mr. Lapid clarified to the numerous interviewers that the discussion is not about any trend but rather about a small group that the police would deal with in a blink of an eye. According to unconfirmed reports, the Attorney General issued a police order to launch an investigation of the creators of an Israel-based Russian-speaking Nazi website.
The creation of an Israeli Nazi website is entirely consistent with the data collected by the Assistance Center for Victims of Anti-Semitism, (“Dmir” movement); the preconditions for its creation have already existed for several years. Reports of spray-painted swastikas accompanied by inscriptions, such as “death to the Kikes” and “Heil Hitler,” have become commonplace. The creators of the website have in truth added nothing new to an already present situation. Moreover, the appearance of a Nazi website is merely the tip of the iceberg. Let us examine some of the signs. On their site, the “BEIists” presented a list of recommended literature: The Myth About the Holocaust, The Jewish Occupation of Russia, etc. All of which are books are sold openly by the chain of Russian book stores Arbat.
Members of the “White Union” had also posted their pictures. Some of them, as can be clearly seen from the photos, are dressed in Zahal uniforms and holding army weapons. Incidentally, according to the BEI programme, mobilization into the Zahal ranks is regarded favorably as it gives access to a weapon. Here come to mind the assurances of certain national politicians that service in the Israeli army automatically enjoins a person to membership of the Jewish nation.
Next to the pictures of the movement’s members is a display of about a dozen pictures of tattoos with Nazi symbols such as Hitler’s portrait, SS lightning, skull and crossbones, and the ever-present swastika. It may be fitting at this point to recall an incident on one of Haifa’s beaches that was recounted in the newspapers back in July of 2000 when the bathers were shocked by the appearance of three Russian-speaking young men tattooed all over with swastikas. One of the witnesses, Dr. Ernest Nesh tried complaining to the authorities, but the municipal representatives, and thereafter the police, refused to address the issue (the story was published by several Russian-speaking newspapers sourcing the Hebrew newspaper Kolbo).
About a year ago, we at the Center received a visit from Z., an immigrant from the CIS. He told us that he was in the Ashdod Mall at the time when a translated soccer match of Korea vs. Germany ( 04.25.2002 ) was being broadcasted on television. “The Germans scored a goal, and a few Russian looking youths started roaring in unison ‘Heil!’” At first glance it may seem like a tasteless adolescent stunt. Nevertheless, in the context of recent reports, it is impossible to overlook the same worrying pattern. We should add that had it been the Israeli team participating in the match, it is likely that Z. would have also heard “kill the Kikes.” On more than one occasion we have heard reports of similar reactions by some soccer fans – “repatriates.”
On June 13th, 2003, the network of local newspapers of the publishing house Yediot Acharanot (Yerushalaim, Tel Aviv, etc.) published an article by Mariana Ulitzkaya about the appearance of the tape “Skinheads Are Coming – #4” in the “Russian” stores of Isarel. The tape is a recording of a Russian-based rock-group performing songs with Nazi content. “Gotta Keep down the Kikes,” and similar expressions are repeatedly used by the performers of the songs. The authors of the lyrics likewise did not fail to mention “the Jewish conspiracy to control the world” and “the myth about the Holocaust.” The price of the tape is 10 shekels. The vendors claim that the tapes enjoy fantastic demand and sell out to the last. The consumers: the “olim” youth. It should be noted that the preceding three tapes by this group, i.e. “Skinheads Are Coming – #1,” likewise enjoyed successfully sales in Israel. Already a year and a half ago the newspaper Weekly News wrote of the victorious trekking of “Skinheads” throughout Israeli cities:
All of these musical opuses are freely sold in Tel Aviv and other major cities in Israel and are in high demand among the Russian-speaking youth. And if, as indicated on the cover, “all proceeds from the “Skinheads” tapes finance patriotic publications and concert actions,” than the purchasers of this product are not only getting a kick listening to Nazi songs, but are also sponsoring Russian Neo-Nazis.
The paper relates the story of Ilya Yoffe, a resident of Bear Sheva: “When I demanded that the tape be removed, the owners categorically refused to do it. Only when I threatened to complain to the police that they are involved in fascist propaganda did they comply with my request. But the next day the tape again back on display.”
According to the data collected by DMIR, no less than four thousand of these tapes were brought into Israel. Taking into account that each tape gets also copied many times over, the words of the Minister of Interior Lapid of “a small group” sound, to put it mildly, irresponsible.
Let us recall that in Moscow in the early 90s there were no more than a few dozen skinheads; today, they are dozen of thousands. On the Internet, there are dozens of Russian-Nazi chat-forums, in which their Israeli counterparts actively participate. The import of Russian Neo-Nazism to Israeli soil reeks of catastrophe. Afterall, the number of potential victims in Israel is far greater than in the CIS.
A gathering of the Jewish Agency’s sponsors and directors from all over the world took place on June 22-24, 2003 at the Metzudat David Hotel. In correspondence to the event, DMIR activists picketed the hotel under the emblem of “Sochnut Is Importing Anti-Semitism to Israel.”
It is our firm belief that the Neo-Nazi movement growing in our country is directly caused by our counterproductive emigration policy.
Director of Operations
Zalman Gilichensky
èì. 054-691955
