Faith

Suspected Ultra-Orthodox Radicals Spray-Paint Anti-Zionist Graffiti on Israeli Holocaust Memorial

Anti Zionist Graffiti Spray Painted on Israels Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial

Matityahu Drobles, a Holocaust survivor and former member of Israel's parliament, looks at anti-Zionist graffiti sprayed on the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial compound in Jerusalem, Monday, June 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

JERUSALEM (AP) — Vandals spray-painted anti-Zionist graffiti at Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, its chairman said Monday, suggesting radical ultra-Orthodox Jews were to blame.

The anti-Zionist graffiti was painted at 12 spots across the memorial compound, including slogans that read, “Hitler, thank you for the Holocaust,“ ”Jews, wake up, the evil Zionist regime doesn’t protect us, it jeopardizes us,” and, “If Hitler hadn’t existed, the Zionists would have invented him.”

“We are shocked and dazed by this callous expression of burning hatred against the Zionists and Zionism,” said Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev. “This unprecedented act crosses a red line.”

He suggested that ultra-Orthodox radicals were responsible, noting the slogans were written in excellent Hebrew handwriting and one was signed “world ultra-Orthodox Jewry.”

It’s unclear how the culprits broke into the memorial, which is guarded 24 hours a day.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the case was under investigation but no suspects had been identified. He said one of the main angles of the investigation focused on ultra-Orthodox extremists.

Many ultra-Orthodox Jews are non-Zionist because they think a Jewish state should not be established before the coming of the Messiah. A small number of extremists subscribe to the conspiracy theory that Israel’s founders colluded with Hitler to achieve their goal of establishing a state for Jews.

Part of the graffiti was scrawled across the walls of the Warsaw Ghetto Square monument in the main square of the memorial complex.

Anti Zionist Graffiti Spray Painted on Israels Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial

An exhibit at the memorial (AP)

Education Minister Gideon Saar condemned the acts, saying that “whoever desecrated Yad Vashem with these awful messages did it to offend the public’s feelings.”

Holocaust survivors groups expressed outrage over the graffiti.

Uri Regev, a liberal rabbi who heads the religious equality group Hiddush, called on leading ultra-Orthodox rabbis to condemn the act in the strongest terms. “Their silence will be viewed as accepting the acts of extremists in the ultra-Orthodox sector.”

Comments (37)

  • DisposableWorker
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 6:13pm

    Our worst enemies have always been our own family.

    Report Post »  
  • SageInWaiting
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 11:47am

    Sad…. Jew, Christian, Muslim – when you define your beliefs SO narrowly that you don’t allow God the freedom TO BE GOD, to do things a bit differently than you think yet not violating scripture, evil results. Yes, the Messiah will establish His kingdom when He comes/returns. That doesn‘t mean God won’t move through human events to build foundations and prepare for the Messiah’s arrival. Doesn’t Zechariah indicate that Messiah will come after the world has laid siege to Jerusalem, when Judah will fight like never before? How did Judah get there?

    A “spirit” of religion is a dirty, evil thing filled with hatred. Allow God to be God….

    Report Post » SageInWaiting  
  • Jennifer_D
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 10:38am

    Re: Vandals spray-painted anti-Zionist graffiti at Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, its chairman said Monday, suggesting radical ultra-Orthodox Jews were to blame.

    The anti-Zionist graffiti was painted at 12 spots across the memorial compound, including slogans that read, “Hitler, thank you for the Holocaust,“ ”Jews, wake up, the evil Zionist regime doesn’t protect us, it jeopardizes us,” and, “If Hitler hadn’t existed, the Zionists would have invented him.”

    This is a hefty allegation to make without substantial proof. The fact that some of the messages refer to “us” or were wrote in beautiful Hebrew doesn‘t mean that this incident couldn’t be a plant to cause conflict. Desecrating a Holocaust memorial would be like cutting off one’s nose in spite of their face. Not to mention that Islamic terrorists would certainly cheer these terrible actions.

    Zionism isn’t so much an issue as cultural Jews vs. actual religious Jews is. Didn’t Israel just have a gay pride parade? Many Israeli Jews and American Jews are liberals because that is how they interpret their beliefs.

    Report Post » Jennifer_D  
    • james4usa
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 1:24pm

      Bernie Ecclestone Jewish $Billioniare “ I admire Hitler he got things done” In Isr. 1wwek ago blacks were beaten their shops destroyed during demonstrations. “They threaten the Jewsih way of life”. Now they are being offered money to return to Affrica.

      Report Post »  
    • CoolHandGordon
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 6:30pm

      I’ve talked to some jewish orthodox friends I had many years ago about the state of Israel and they were against it and were against zionism. I couldn’t understand why, and thought maybe they were being a little disingenuous. Now that I read this, maybe I was wrong.

      Report Post »  
  • BondmanPhil
    Posted on June 12, 2012 at 9:47am

    I have witnessed first hand the ultra-Orthodox (Hareidi) violence and vandalism in Israel. It is not restricted to graffitti, but also to the destruction of public infrastructure, like traffic lights, and other manifestations of the State. While I of course condem the law breaking, it stems largely from the feeling that the ultra-Orthodox have no voice in the government, which is partly true, if self-inflicted. As others have said, it is one thing to avoid supporting the state, it is another to break its laws. The extremists in this case either don’t understand the diaspora oppression Jews lived under prior to the State, or perhaps, miss the victim status that the Holocaust conferred upon Jews, which was diminished, if not lost, with the founding of the State. There is a glimmer of hope, however, as demographics shift in Israel, the very large combined majority of traditional, center-right, secular nationalists and religious nationalists is gradually coming together in a way that will marginalize the anti-Zionist Jews, fifth column Arab citizens, and the secular leftists in Israel. A large and growing faction inside the ruling Likud party, led by Moshe Feiglin, is prepared to turn the State of the Jews into the Jewish State. For more info, go to JewishIsrael dot org.

    Report Post »  
  • Wichita1
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:56pm

    They are a people and they deserve to live.We promised to never forget and to never let another Holocaust happen again.

    Holocaust
    by Barbara Sonek

    We played, we laughed
    we were loved.
    We were ripped from the arms of our
    parents and thrown into the fire.
    We were nothing more than children.
    We had a future. We were going to be lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers. We had dreams, then we had no hope. We were taken away in the dead of night like cattle in cars, no air to breathe smothering, crying, starving, dying. Separated from the world to be no more. From the ashes, hear our plea. This atrocity to mankind can not happen again. Remember us, for we were the children whose dreams and lives were stolen away.

    Report Post »  
  • LOJ
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 6:12pm

    The truth is that vandalism does not convince people of their ideologies. In this case more persecution against a people that have been persecuted for centuries and this makes more people supportive and sympathetic to Israel and what the Jews went through!

    Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 5:39pm

    Now Israel has to deal with Jew on Jew crime? Oi vey. Wonder who’s side Debbie Schlussel is on with this one, considering she is Jewish? She attacks anyone who attacks Jews (dare to question her) or “condones”, in her mind, any anti-Semetic statement, even when they did no such thing.

    Disgustng behavior.

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • ThatsJustCrazyTalk
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:06pm

      You came to this site to spew your bitter grievances towards Debbie Schlussel? If it‘s as you’re trying to project that Schlussels input is so important to you, why not email her the article and ask her opinion? Your entire comment is an attempt to put words into her mouth with the attempted coy look of objectivity. I wonder who you think you’re fooling?

      I’ll admit, Schlussel is an acquired taste. She’s brutish, and does indeed showcase a lot of antisemitic attacks. However, after a while you see where she’s coming from. She’s on the defensive because Jews need to be. They‘re under attack worldwide because it’s spiritual warfare. Any Christian should be able to see this. Obviously, you’re not a Christian, nor are you Jewish. So, your slant looks almost islamist. Whatever it is, this is the wrong forum for your grievances with Schlussel. Grow up.

      Report Post »  
  • Individualism
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 3:13pm

    Yeah in history they never told you who funded or colluded with Hitler, there are many theories but many of the folks believe the Rothschild s colluded with Hitler to create the state, its possible but there is no more proof in that theory than there is in the others. Some say the Muslims even funded him. all they want to say in school is that this many of them died and thats about it. if the truth came out it could change everything.

    Report Post » Individualism  
    • tzion
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 3:29pm

      Well we do know that Ford not only met with Hitler but that Hitler even kept a portrait of him in his office.

      Report Post »  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 6:26pm

      And IBM used punch cards to identify French Jews’ residences so that Gestapo could round them up and send them to death camps.

      Report Post » Elena2010  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 3:13pm

    How sad.

    Messiah has come and is coming again. This is the message of the state of Israel’s resurrection.

    Report Post » Elena2010  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 1:14pm

      Just makes Israels stance stronger and makes Allah look dumb. Just shows the hate and envy of the Palestinian people. Yeah looks like Syria and the whole middle east is doing AWESOME. Fantastic job Hillary, what the heck have you been saying in those meetings?? This is a big ole NO BUENO for Hilary.

      Report Post »  
  • lapitup
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 3:12pm

    Instead of erase it, like it never happened, they should engrave it up on the monument showing how history can change. Let it show how people do forget over time, Let it show how history can repeat it’s self. Leaving the graffiti tells me all those things, Yes it shows a sign of diss respect but what it tells us is much more reveling. Then the original monument means that much more to me.

    Report Post »  
  • Arcangel Michael
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 3:00pm

    Jesus, I trust in You

    http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/chaplethistory.php

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AySdEJx50Z0&feature=related

    Report Post » Arcangel Michael  
  • rpg1958
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:46pm

    Okay, they got my attention by the act of vandalism. Unfortunately for them, it has turned me off of them and any message they have. If they were to behave in a civilized manner, I would listen to them, due to their act of vandalism I will oppose anything they stand for.

    Report Post »  
  • Sonia Francisco
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:20pm

    No matter what “side” you are on, it is way beyond poor taste to desecrate a memorial to those who have suffered beyond what we can even imagine. There are other more humane ways to express a differing opinion. Prayers going out to those whose wounds have been re-opened by this cold-hearted vandalism. I hope the spray paint can be cleaned up and that the vandals are sent the bill.

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:07pm

    …
    Why weren’t there any security cameras?
    It’s guarded 24/7. Maybe it was an inside job.

    Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:06pm

    If you are waiting for Obama or Eric Holder to come to your rescue, don’t hold your breath. When Holder and Obama first started the attempt to make changes to existing laws someone in the Justice Department and Congress should have put a stop to this. It should be done now. You people who are standing by waiting for Justice, better not hold your breath unless Obama can use your help some way, because their Justice is not the Justice for All. It is based upon what kind of tool he can make out of you. Get real and vote these vermin out of office. We owe them Nothing. They are not people who respect our laws or our people or our Republic. This is our country and we better stand up for her or they will divide it into tribes who war constantly like those of the Mid East. That is their mentality. These laws cover All people for Justice to the detriment of criminals or to protect the people from the likes of those in D.C. who are usurping this country. The laws are not to be changed for political agendas.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • Fubared
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:04pm

    Ass. We say ass here, still.

    Report Post »  
  • inblack
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:03pm

    Zionism in Israel is a Secularist Nationalist movement – it is not religious.

    Before you jump in and take sides, you should understand that the anti-Zionists are the people who are deeply religious and are struggling against the idea that jews are just a nationality.

    Obviously vandalism is not the way to make a point, but I’d hesitate to jump in a take a side in a country you know nothing about.

    Report Post »  
    • Joey8
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:08pm

      Its not hard to be against any group that says “thank you hitler for the holocaust”. What’s so complicated about that?

      Report Post »  
    • inblack
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:31pm

      @JOEY8

      Thanks, you made my point. The reference to Hitler is because the Zionists greatest victory was the post holocaust formation of the state of Israel. Like Truthers, these people believe the Zionists conspired with Hitler.

      My point was not about this group, but rather about Zionism.
      Blaze readers seem to think Zionism, an anti-religious movement, is a good thing.

      You can be against vandalism and crazy tactics, but don’t take sides in the Zionist issue without understanding which side is which.

      Report Post »  
    • tzion
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:36pm

      Well as someone who does know a great deal about this country, let me tell you that the world isn’t divided into Zionists and anti-Zionists. One can disapprove of Zionism without being anti-Zionist. There is no excuse for this kind of action.

      Report Post »  
    • Cesium
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:47pm

      It should also be recognized that the Ultra-orthodox do not represent the history of the Jewish people. They do not represent the Jewish people in general. They are a medieval era sect. Their messiah already came and went and his name was Rabbi Schneerson from NY.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menachem_Mendel_Schneerson

      Report Post »  
    • nuchsh
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 3:47pm

      CESIUM
      Rabbi Schneerson was a rabbi of chabad a congergation of 1000 famillies and about half of them belived he is the messiah there are 250,000 ultra orthodox jews in brooklyn who are just as much representitve of judiasim as any other sect and they are really pro israel and always vote conservetive they voted in republican Bob Turner woh is not jewish over a democrat that was jewish http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-wins-democratic-new-york-house-seat/2011/09/13/gIQAoos5QK_story.html

      Report Post »  
    • CoolHandGordon
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:20pm

      You make a good point. If orthodox Jews whom are the most religious and conservative jews, are against zionism, then who’s representing the true “jews”..

      Here’s a wiki link I just read about Haredi Judaism.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haredi_Judaism#Israel

      I didn’t know that they were against zionism.

      Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:59pm

    Sounds like the work of the Guy Fawkes crowd ! Mayhem and Big Lies. Civil disorder. Distraction and confusion. Our international Anarchists just doing what they do so well. They all share the al Qaeda gene for burka-hiding suicide bombers. Surprise , Lies, Hate, and Destruction. Dysfunctional lemmings into NoWhereLand. That is where hate always leads you.

    Report Post »  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 3:08pm

      No. Look at the handwriting. It’s beautiful Hebrew manuscript. It’s an inside job ;-(

      Report Post » Elena2010  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:58pm

    This is where all those socialists are going that those Jewish people voted for and will vote for in this upcoming election. These people do not like Jews but the Jews keep helping vote in the leftist leaning parasites, why? The Nazis branched off the Socialist parties. Get your stuff together and stand up for yourselves.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • jamesctheman
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:55pm

    This is basically the Israeli version of Westboro Baptist. Fringe elements are everywhere. Problem is seems they all want to be heard right now. They’re escalating the levels protest in an effort to still make the news. It’s hard to get any news time right now with a simple act. You need the grand condemnation to get in the news cycle & too many people willing to go that far. That’s what is becoming scary.

    Report Post » jamesctheman  
  • nuchsh
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:51pm

    “SUSPECTED ULTRA-ORTHODOX RADICALS” it’s a group of 35 families they call themselves “netura karta” they are Ron Paul supporters and Iran supporting crazies
    http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2012/01/ronn-paul-and-neturei-karta-234.html and they deny that they didi it (they usually take responsibility for these kind of garbage)

    Report Post »  
    • Neils60
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 6:40pm

      And, they choose to live within their own sect of fellow fruitcakes. They’ve been creating havoc for years in Israel. It‘s too bad that they just can’t wait for their messiah without creating a problem for others. This small group is widely disdained by both the left and right in Israel and elsewhere, with the exception of Adolph Ahmedinijad in Iran.

      Report Post »  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:42pm

    Marybeth Elizabeth Gobbels strikes again.

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • CatB
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:34pm

    Disgusting! POS

    Report Post »  

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