Far-right Israeli Knesset members threaten summer camp for bereaved Israeli, Palestinian children

Far-right members of Israel's parliament (Knesset) have threatened a youth village for renting out its premises for a planned summer camp for bereaved Israeli and Palestinian children, according to Israeli media reports.

During a Knesset Education Committee meeting, Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) member Almog Cohen threatened to "blow up the camp", while Likud member Hanoch Milwidsky called its organisers "despicable".

Milwidsky said any public funding for the Ben Shemen Youth Village would be closely scrutinised, and insisted the government "will respond" to the camp's hosting.

Though it is being hosted by the Ben Shemen Youth Village, the camp, set to be held in July, has been organised by the Parents Circle – Family Forum, a nonprofit for Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost relatives in war.

📢 Urgent! Help protect our Israeli-Palestinian youth summer camp! Coalition Knesset members threaten our camp's existence.

Attacks started online, but MK Almog Cohen shockingly plans to physically shut it down.

We need YOUR support for peace.https://t.co/luj5BAqUuD

— Parents Circle (@ThePCFF) June 20, 2023

In a statement, the organisation's co-director, Yuval Rahamim, said he was "shocked by the wild and violent attacks", adding that members of the Youth Village had received death threats.

The camp is held every summer in different locations. The Israeli education ministry has recognised the work of the charity, which is authorised to be part of Israeli school programs.

The charity is run by both Israelis and Palestinians, with participating members coming from families who have directly lost someone to the violence.

According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the camp came under Knesset scrutiny after lobbying from the right-wing organisation Btsalmo.