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.

There have been an especially abundant number of complaints about the anti-Semitism of the Russian-speaking schoolchildren. Olim educators are in frequent correspondence with the Information and Support Center for Victims of Anti-Semitism in Israel.

Anti-Semitic acts are largely ignored by officials in Israel, in spite of the fact that the media has informed the public scores of times about this horrific phenomenon.

The behavior of many of the non-Jewish immigrants to Israel is chillingly similar to the disrespectful and disorderly behavior of illegal Mexican immigrants to the United States and Muslim immigrants to Western Europe. Russian thugs in Israel have perpetrated dozens of anti-Jewish incidents.

Three immigrants from the former Soviet Union, ages 14 to 16 were indicted Thursday in the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court for allegedly assaulting ultra-Orthodox residents of the city... 27/01/2005

The following article has appeared in the “Vesti” newspaper, May 22, 2005:

“What happened in the city of Karmiel at the end of last week, on the Student Day, was so far reported only on Channel 10 on TV. There were no reporters on the scene, and only the amateur video given to the journalists was used...

"Hitler was a genius. He succeeded in doing what no one else had done", wrote a 16 year old boy from Be'er Sheva, on his computer's ICQ program. Unfortunately for him, he addressed these shocking statements to Police Investigator Staff Sergeant Oleg Rosental, whose relentless compilation of information, which continued approximately a month, brought to the youth's arrest.

Very quietly, a widespread Neo-Nazi movement has been established here, in which tens of young Russian members are in favor of the destruction of the Jews.

Worshipers at the 100-year-old Great Synagogue in Petah Tikva saw the graffiti outside the building when they arrived at 4:30 a.m. Thursday to open it for morning prayers...

Sir, -As an American immigrant studying in a Petah Tikva yeshiva, I joined other residents of that city last Tuesday night to attend festive Independence Eve services at the main synagogue on Rehov Hovevei Zion...

Gilichinsky has been surveilling neo-Nazi activity in Israel for the past 17 years from his modest apartment in Jerusalem's Ramot neighborhood, but failed to attract the media or authorities' attention. "Nobody wants to know. The politicians ignore it. Occasionally, some act of vandalism makes the headlines, raising a brief interest that dies shortly afterward," he says.

Six minors, immigrants from the CIS, were arrested early this year on suspicion of burning flags and stealing mezuzahs from Nahshonim School in Bat Yam. They also confessed to stealing mezuzahs from homes in the city on eight additional occasions. The teens attributed their actions to a hatred for Jews and Judaism.

"I was walking my dog in Tel Aviv. When I went to cross the street there was a drunk-looking man standing next to me. My dog got scared and started to bark at him. I apologized and continued walking. I suddenly felt someone push me and I fell on the floor. The drunken man pushed me to the ground, took the leash and started to choke the dog. He was screaming at me "Stinking Zhidovka! (A derogatory name for a Jew in Russian).

Six youngsters between ages of 12 and 15 from coastal town Bat-Yam, south of Tel Aviv, arrested for burning Israeli flag and mezuzah parchments torn from doorposts. The boys, not all Jewish, explain 'We loath anything related to Judaism'

...Zalman Glichevsky runs an organization called Dmir for victims of anti-Semitism within the country. "The government knows very well that there is a problem, but they don't react," he said. "It's like talking to a wall, they want to brush this problem under the carpet. Israel has been created as a refuge for Jews, but when it turns out that anti-Semitism is here, too, the refuge is ruined."

Ari Ackerman, a student from Switzerland, was walking home along the Tel Aviv beach after a late-night swim when he and a friend were jumped by a gang singing Nazi songs and displaying swastika tattoos...

Shot and displayed by a neo-Nazi group from Petah-Tikva in Israel...

Russian immigrants who were invited to settle in Israel despite having onlydistant Jewish roots are being blamed for a startling outbreak of anti- Semitism in the country.

Police arrest eight youths suspected of being members of a local neo-Nazi cell. Group members assaulted minority groups, spray-painted swastikas. Before court hearing Sunday, suspects deny allegations, say 'tattoos mean nothing'

Nazi graffiti discovered in several places in the city. Ayalon district police investigating the incident, no arrests made so far

Police in northern town of Migdal Haemek arrest teenager suspected of spraying swastikas on cars, walls...

An indictment was filed at the Tel Aviv District Court Tuesday against the eight youths arrested Sunday on suspicion of being members of a neo-Nazi cell in Petah Tikva. Three of the defendants are minors...

Star pupil at military academy in Haifa posts videos of himself on Youtube, goose-stepping in IDF uniform, reaching sister Nazi salute

Officials say Petah Tikva anti-Semitic gang just one of many, claim 'a number of latent local cells waiting to come out of the closet' . Police posit that a neo-Nazi cell uncovered last weekend in Petah Tikva is not the last anti-Semitic gang in the area. ..

...He'd just finished a lesson at kollel, married men's yeshiva, when "they started laughing at me and making remarks about the 'zhids,'" he recalls. Then the boys started throwing rocks at him. He threw rocks back, until one of the boys hit a car, the driver got out, and the boys scattered...

A 19-year-old was arrested Sunday on suspicion of vandalizing a succa in Haifa. The succa, located near a synagogue in Neve David...

"Patrol 36" – this is how the members of the most aggressive Russian-Nazi gang in Israel had called themselves.

The gang had ties with their "colleagues" in the CIS – the radical neo-nazi group "Format 18" and other groups...

Today, the Law of Return, enacted to increase the number of Jews in the State of Israel, is in reality not only increasing the non-Jewish part of the population, but is also “repatriating” to this country European anti-Semitism.

Of course, there are the “showcase” excesses, such as the drawing of swastikas, the burning and desecration of Jewish cemeteries and religious buildings. The contagion of anti-Semitism, however, has also other less conspicuous but no less detestable manifestations.

Anti-Semitism has been swelling recently in the Jewish state. Not long ago, the first Israeli neo-Nazi Internet site was launched. More precisely, it is an Israeli site in Russian.

Synagogues defaced by swastikas in B’nai Brak? Graves vandalized in Beit Shemesh? A teenager harassed for being a Jew on her way to school in Netivot?

Three immigrants from the former Soviet Union, ages 14 to 16 were indicted Thursday in the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court for allegedly assaulting ultra-Orthodox residents of the city... 27/01/2005 "Haaretz"