MAKHACHKALA, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Hundreds of anti-Israel protesters on Sunday stormed Russia's Dagestan airport in Makhachkala where a plane from Israel had just arrived, forcing Russian security forces to close the airport and divert flights while removing the demonstrators.

About 20 were injured, including two in critical condition said local health authorities. Makhachkala is one of several areas in the north Caucasus region that are home to large Muslim communities.

Video obtained by Reuters showed mostly young men waving Palestine flags, breaking down glass doors and running through the airport shouting "Allahu Akbar" or "God is Greatest". Another group outside rocked a white truck with the initials of a patrol service on it in Russian.

Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia security forces had removed the group by 10:20 p.m. Moscow time (1920 GMT). The passengers on the plane were "in a safe place", security forces told Reuters.

Over the past day, a Jewish centre under construction in Nalchik, the capital of the nearby Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, was also set on fire, local emergency officials said.

Rosaviatsia said the airport would remain closed until Nov. 6. Russia's Investigative Committee ordered a criminal probe into the incident.

Israel urged Russian authorities to protect Israelis and Jews in their jurisdictions following the report