Demonstrators gathered at an airport in Makhachkala, located in Russia’s southwest Republic of Dagestan, late Sunday evening. As they occupied the airport, the crowd vocalized anti-Israel sentiments, seemingly in search of passengers from a plane that had landed from Tel Aviv.
Due to the sudden uproar, the airport was temporarily shut down, as confirmed by the Russian aviation authority, Rosaviatsia. Planes scheduled to land in Makhachkala were rerouted to other destinations.
According to Amichai Stein, a correspondent for the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, a handful of Israeli and Jewish individuals found themselves stranded amidst the turmoil at the airport. Disturbing chants, including “Allahu Akbar” and various anti-Semitic phrases, echoed from the crowd.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern and confirmed that their ambassador in Russia was actively collaborating with local officials to ensure the safety of the Israelis present. The Ministry stated: “Israel is profoundly concerned about any attempts targeting Israelis and Jews worldwide. We trust the Russian enforcement agencies will protect all Israelis and Jews and take stringent actions against those responsible for such disruptions and provocations.”
Dagestan is predominantly inhabited by Muslims, whereas Jews form a small minority in Russia, numbering approximately 83,000 in total.
Rebekah Koffler, an expert in foreign affairs, indicated to Fox News Digital that unchecked protests might pose a significant challenge for Russian President Vladimir Putin. She elaborated on the potential radicalization of local Muslims, attributing it to historical religious repression. She warned, “The consequences for Russian Jews could be dire. Putin, for two decades, has shown support for Jews and Israel. Mismanagement of this situation might lead to unrest in Muslim-majority Russian regions and even possibly instigate terror attacks in major cities.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the incidents, describing them as “horrifying” and suggested that a broader anti-Semitic sentiment exists among Russian officials.
He posted on X (previously known as Twitter): “The occurrences in Makhachkala are not isolated events but reflect a broader culture of intolerance in Russia, often fueled by state media and authorities.” Zelenskyy further added, “Antisemitic remarks have frequently been heard from Russia’s foreign minister in the past year. This pattern of hate rhetoric extends to some of Russia’s top leaders and propagandists, especially in light of recent tensions in the Middle East.”