| The Simon Wiesenthal Center voices its outrage over the recent desecration of Christian religious sites in Israel, as well asvandalism of an Arab village. “The desecration of religious sites in a democratic Israel pains us as Jews as much as it pains the intended victims,” said RabbiAbraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Wiesenthal Center. “Our outrage is mitigated only by the unequivocal response from the highest places in Israeli society,” he continued. He referredto the “Quick expression of ‘disgust’ by Prime Minister Netanyahu, and his commitment to apprehend and prosecute those responsible, and to redoubling Israel’s educational emphasis on itscore values of tolerance and respect for all people.” “The perpetrators added ‘Happy Hanukah’ slogans in their vandalism,” remarked Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, the Center’s director ofinterfaith affairs, “but there was nothing happy and nothing Hanukah about these attacks. At a time that Jews commemorate winning religious freedom from their ancient oppressors, they aremindful of not violating the welcome mat that Israel extends to all other religious groups. How tragic that while the vast majority of Jews celebrate their own religious values, misguidedpeople would resort to such ugly and un-Jewish tactics.” |
Overnight, offensive graffiti were painted atan Armenian cemetery and the Valley of the Cross monastery in Jerusalem. Cars were also spray-painted and tires slashed at the monastery, and at Shukba, near Ramallah.