The Black Panthers () were an Israeli protest movement established by second-generation Jewish immigrants from North Africa, the Arab world, and other parts of the Middle East. The movement was among the earliest in the State of Israel to advocate for the rights and interests of Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews. Its members were influenced by the African American Black Panther Party and used the same name. The group is sometimes referred to as the Israeli Black Panthers to distinguish it from the American organization.

History

The movement was founded in early 1971 by young Mizrahi Jews in the Musrara neighborhood of West Jerusalem, in response to patterns of discrimination against Mizrahi Jews that had been present throughout the history of the State of Israel.

The movement's founders protested the Ashkenazi establishment's neglect of Mizrahi social issues. The original group consisted of ten members, all children of Moroccan Jews who had settled in Israel. They were approximately 18 to 20 years old, and most had left school before completing primary education and had spent time in juvenile delinquent institutions. The founders were influenced by the Community Work Division of the Jerusalem Municipality, which introduced them to the mass media as a means of expressing their demands for change. Additional influences included anti-Zionist high school and university students.

The Black Panthers asserted that discrimination against Mizrahi Jews was evident in the differing treatment they perceived from the Ashkenazi establishment toward immigrants from the Soviet Union. Unlike most other Mizrahi organizations in Israel, which were primarily religious, such as Shas, the Black Panthers maintained a secular Jewish orientation.

Originally a wealthy Palestinian neighborhood, Musrara had been depopulated during the Nakba, when its Palestinian residents either fled or were expelled and were not permitted to return. Their homes were subsequently allocated to Jewish immigrants from Middle Eastern and North African countries. Located along the border between Israel and the West Bank, Musrara became a neglected area, with parts designated as a no-man’s land and marked by minefields. Following the 1967 Six-Day War and the Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem, the neighborhood became centrally located within a unified Jerusalem under Israeli administration. The Israeli government developed plans to redevelop the area with high-rise housing intended for Soviet immigrants, a process that would have involved the displacement of the existing North African Jewish residents.

Prominent early members of the Israeli Black Panthers movement included Charlie Biton, Saadia Marciano, Roni Orovitz, Meir Levi,

Protest activities

In early 1971, the formation of the Israeli Black Panthers movement was publicized. Around this time, reports emerged that some of the movement’s leaders had criminal records. Authorities expressed concern that unrest similar to the 1959 Wadi Salib riots could recur. Prior to the movement’s first organized demonstration, activist Shimshon Vigodar produced and distributed leaflets in the Musrara neighborhood with three members of Matzpen, a leftist anti-Zionist group. While distributing the materials, they were detained by police. Vigodar later noted that unlike the treatment of Matzpen activists, members of the Black Panthers were arrested prior to demonstrations without specific charges.

In March 1971, the Israel Police denied the Black Panthers a permit to demonstrate, citing the criminal records of some members. Several individuals were arrested to prevent the protest from taking place. Authorities stated that funding would be allocated to address socioeconomic issues in Jerusalem neighborhoods. Despite the denial, the Black Panthers proceeded with an unauthorized demonstration on March 2, 1971, in front of Jerusalem City Hall, to protest poverty, economic inequality, and ethnic discrimination within Israeli Jewish society. The group circulated a leaflet calling for action against class and ethnic discrimination and for the release of the detained organizers. Approximately 200 to 300 people participated, primarily students and intellectuals, rather than residents of Musrara. The protest attracted additional attention in part due to its unauthorized status.

The movement gained public and media visibility and began developing a base of support. On May 18, 1971, the Black Panthers organized a mass demonstration known as "The Night of the Panthers," with an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 participants protesting against discrimination toward Mizrahi Jews. The protest began in Davidka Square and proceeded toward Zion Square, resulting in seven hours of clashes between demonstrators and police. Protesters called for renaming the square to Kikar Yehadut HaMizrah (Mizrahi Jewry Square). This protest was also held without a permit.

Historian Oz Frankel describes the police response during the protest, noting the use by the police of water cannons that sprayed water dyed green, which contributed to panic among the crowd. More than 100 individuals were arrested, including many bystanders, and reports of police brutality were recorded. Arrests continued into the following day. Late in the evening, demonstrators threw three Molotov cocktails. The use of incendiary devices marked a shift in the movement's tactics and contributed to heightened concern among law enforcement and government officials.

Prior to the May protest, on April 13, 1971, representatives of the Black Panthers met with Prime Minister Golda Meir, who characterized them as "not nice people". She regarded the leaders as lawbreakers and declined to formally recognize the group as a legitimate social movement. Following the May 18 protest, the government increased pressure on the Panthers to join the Alliance of Moroccan Immigrants, an establishment-aligned organization. According to historian Oz Frankel, the Panthers temporarily agreed in order to secure the release of jailed members. Elbaz was allegedly paid by the police, and authorities overlooked his activities related to pimping.

Elbaz contributed financially to the movement and strongly advocated for violence.

The Israeli Black Panthers identified with African Americans in their experiences of discrimination and marginalization. They viewed Israeli society as divided by ethnic and class lines and rejected the idea that assimilation was a viable solution to their concerns.

In 2011, a group of activists named two paths in the Musrara neighborhood of Jerusalem "Black Panthers Way" and "They're Not Nice Alley." The latter name references a remark made by former Prime Minister Golda Meir about the Israeli Black Panthers.

See also

  • Wadi Salib riots
  • Equality in Israel – Panthers

References

Further reading

  • A. Kramer, On the 30th anniversary of the Black Panthers movement in Israel marxist.com, 20 August 2002
  • Elia-Shalev, Asaf, Black Panthers The Radicals Who Punctured a Nation's Founding Myth, University of California Press, 2024
  • Black Panthers Knesset website
  • Archive of documents and clippings
  • Obituary of Black Panther founder Saadia Marciano