Rallies against Israeli actions in Lebanon quickly descended into calls for antisemitic violence in Moscow and a town in Azerbaijan, according to two separate reports posted on the Russian Jewish web site Antisemitizmu.net.

On August 4 in Moscow, top Communist Party officials, including a State Duma deputy named Vladimir Kashin, participated in an anti-Israel rally. Members of the extreme leftist youth groups the Union of Communist Youth and the Avantguard of Red Youth reportedly chanted in support of Hezbollah, and at least one speaker called for violence against Israelis, suggesting that the Arabs should fight “to the last Jew.”

Meanwhile, around 70 residents of Nardaran, Azerbaijan held a pro-Hezbollah rally. One speaker promised that local Muslims will “in the near future unite with Iranian Muslims and destroy those demons.” Another speaker criticized the government for not supporting Hezbollah—“They are afraid of the Jews, not Allah.” Head of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan, Gadzhi Gadzhiaga, called for the elimination of the Azerbaijan-Israeli Friendship Commission. Rally participants burned US and Israeli flags.

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