Israel confronts dangerous extremist rhetoric as police extend detention of professor urging violent rebellion.
Israel Police on Sunday sought an additional five-day extension of the arrest of Dr. Yolanda Yavor, a professor whose online post crossed every red line of lawful discourse and veered into blatant, dangerous incitement. Yavor was detained after publishing a message authorities say openly praised, justified, or encouraged acts of terrorism—language disturbingly reminiscent of rhetoric pushed by anti-Israel radicals and Arab-aligned agitators seeking internal destabilization.
On Saturday, the Haifa Magistrate’s Court extended her arrest by one day as investigators probed the full scope of her online influence. The judge found that Yavor’s statement—calling for “rebellion,” branding the Israeli government “traitors,” urging confrontation “by all means,” and echoing violent revolutionary language—created a genuine suspicion of encouraging violence. Despite her claims that she meant no direct incitement, the court concluded that her massive online reach, coupled with the volatility of her message, posed a real public danger.
Yavor’s posts included:
- “Fight the traitor… collaborators… Freikorps militias with full force.”
- “There won’t be another round… So let’s go—rebellion.”
- “You don’t topple a dictatorship at the ballot box.”
- “Netanyahu is a traitor.”
- “We’re coming to get you.”
Such language, authorities argue, is indistinguishable from the violent propaganda style used by extremist networks hostile to Israel, including those that openly support Palestinian terror groups and seek to fracture Israeli society from within.
The State Attorney’s Office approved opening the investigation just one day after the post appeared, underscoring the gravity of the case. A police representative emphasized the inherent danger posed by a high-profile academic choosing to weaponize her platform: “The suspect is a professor… She knows the meaning of her words. The post is violent, inciting, and dangerous. She has thousands of followers—many more exposed through shares.”
Yavor, speaking from detention, claimed she was questioned about her political preferences. The officer denied this, asserting that the interrogation focused solely on the inciting statements.
Israel continues to grapple with rising online radicalization—often amplified by foreign-backed networks and ideologies hostile to the Jewish state. Cases like Yavor’s serve as reminders that incitement, whether from terror sympathizers or local agitators echoing their narratives, carries real-world consequences.
