World
Vandals deface synagogue in Poland with graffiti calling Israel ‘criminals and murderers’
The vandalism took place on New Year’s Eve at the White Stork synagogue
January 3, 2024 17:40
The vandalism took place on New Year’s Eve at the White Stork synagogue
January 3, 2024 17:40A synagogue in Poland has been defaced with anti-Israel graffiti.
The graffiti, which read “Israel, criminals and murderers”, was scrawled onto the White Stork synagogue in Wroclaw on New Years Eve. Police have launched an investigation.
The shul is the only in Wroclaw to have survived the Holocaust and was rededicated in 2010 after a decade-long renovation project.
Sebastian Lorenc, deputy mayor of the city, condemned the vandalism and said: “The antisemitic rabble unfortunately raised its head again”.
He continued: “There is no place for xenophobia and antisemitism in our Wroclaw”.
Yacov Livne, the Israeli ambassador to Poland, added: “That’s not how 2024 should have started. All responsible people should fight antisemitism and xenophobia”.
The European Jewish Congress told the JC: “Sadly, this incident is one of the daily antisemitic attacks reported by our affiliated communities, including the Union of Jewish Religious Communities in Poland.
We are appalled by the hateful graffiti spray-painted on the synagogue of Wrocław, Poland: "Criminals, murderers"
— European Jewish Congress (@eurojewcong) January 3, 2024
This cannot be tolerated.
We hope the authorities will investigate and identify the perpetrators without delay. pic.twitter.com/icqHeHAIVe
“We condemn this attack, and we call on the Polish authorities to ensure that those responsible will be brought to justice.
“We welcome the Deputy Mayor of Wrocław's full condemnation of the incident and his clear call against antisemitism in his city, where thousands of Jews were murdered during the Shoah."
A local police spokesperson said the vandalism was being first “considered in terms of destruction of property” but they were investigating whether there has been “any insult to religious teachings”.
The incident comes after a Chanukiah was destroyed in Wroclaw on December 14 by a group of teenagers.