2021 Israel–Palestine crisis

The 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis was an outbreak of violence in the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict commenced on 10 May 2021, though disturbances took place earlier, and continued until a ceasefire came into effect on 21 May.

Israeli officials

• My dear ones, the sight of the pogrom in Lod and the disturbances across the country by an incited and bloodthirsty Arab mob, Injuring people, damaging property and even attacking sacred Jewish spaces is unforgiveable. Tearing down the Israeli flag by Arab rioters and replacing it with the Palestinian flag is a brutal assault on shared existence in the State of Israel. The silence of the Arab leadership about these disturbances is shameful, giving support to terrorism and rioting and encouraging the rupture of the society in which we live and in which we will continue to live once all this has passed.

Reuven Rivlin, 12 May 2021, President Rivlin’s statement to the media

• We will not allow any extremist element to undermine the quiet in Jerusalem. We will uphold law and order – vigorously and responsibly. We will continue to guard freedom of worship for all faiths but we will not allow violent disturbances. In the same breath, I say to the terrorist organizations: Israel will respond powerfully to any act of aggression from the Gaza Strip.

Benjamin Netanyahu, 9 May 2021, Excerpts from PM Netanyahu’s remarks at the start of the special Cabinet meeting

• We emphatically reject the pressures not to build in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, these pressures have been increasing of late. I say to our best friends as well: Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Just as every people builds its capital and in its capital, so too do we reserve the right to build Jerusalem and in Jerusalem. This is what we have done and what we will continue to do.

Benjamin Netanyahu, 9 May 2021, Excerpts from PM Netanyahu’s remarks at the start of the special Cabinet meeting