Synagogue in Austria Vandalized with ‘Free Palestine’ Graffiti

Graffiti reading “Free Palestine” was spray painted on a synagogue in the Austrian city of Graz. The perpetrators of the anti-Semitic vandalism have not been identified, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 

In addition to the “Free Palestine” graffiti, the synagogue was also sprayed with a message reading, “our country and our language are red lines.” The vandalism was discovered on Wednesday, August 19th at the city’s only synagogue, according to the president of the Jewish Community of Graz, Elie Rosen.

The graffiti was sprayed on a wall of the synagogue that was reconstructed from the bricks of the synagogue’s original building, which was destroyed by the Nazis in 1938. The current modern structure was dedicated in 2000 on the same site as the pre-war synagogue that was destroyed during Kristallnacht.

In an interview with the Wiener Zeitung, Rosen said, “It’s not right-wing extremism. In Graz we are increasingly dealing with left-wing and anti-Israel anti-Semitism. We can see that clearly.”

The city of Graz is approximately 80 miles southwest of Vienna and has a Jewish population of about 150 people.

Read More: https://bit.ly/34q5cWL