Anti-Israel protesters storm airport in southern Russia

Russian independent media and other reports say hundreds of anti-Israel protesters have stormed an airport in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan.

The reports say Dagestan residents were rallying on Sunday to protest Israel as the country was expanding its military activities on the ground in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Dagestan’s population is mostly Muslim.

The reports say some of the protesters thronged to the airport in the central city of Makhachkala after learning that a passenger plane was arriving from Israel on Sunday night.

A number of them reportedly entered a runway to surround the aircraft, shouting that the people on board were killers.

Russian aviation authorities say the airport was closed.

Earlier on Sunday, the head of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, called in a social media post for people to be prudent and stop any attempts to split their society.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow last Wednesday with representatives of religious associations in Russia, including Jewish and Muslim groups as well as the Russian Orthodox Church.

Putin mentioned the Israeli-Palestinian situation and called for the unity of society.

Analysts say that indicates Putin’s administration is becoming wary of the anti-Jewish movements in Russia.