Wednesday 30 July 2014

Antisemitic Graffiti Appears in Rome Following Attack on Synagogue in Germany

FSWC Reports:

From News Agencies via ynetnews.com with contributions from the Associated Press and Reuters:

Rome's mayor has denounced anti-Semitic graffiti and swastikas that have appeared across Rome and ordered them removed.

Some of the graffiti referred to the escalating violence in Gaza and included taunts such as "Jews, the end is near."
 
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Israeli Knesset Committee Hosts European Officials, Discusses Situation of Jews in Europe

FSWC Reports:

From the Tazpit News Agency via unitedwithisrael.org:

The Danish, Swedish and Dutch ambassadors to Israel, as well as officials from the embassies of Britain, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Austria and Germany, took part Monday in an urgent meeting of the Knesset’s Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee on the situation of the Jews in Europe.

Member of Knesset (Israeli Parliament) Yisrael Hasson, a former deputy director of the Shin Bet (Israeli Security Agency), told the ambassadors:

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Tuesday 29 July 2014

Turkish Prime Minister Returns Award Given to him by American Jewish Group

FSWC Reports:

From News Agencies via ynetnews.com with contributions from the Associated Press and AFP:

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is returning an award given to him by a Jewish American group in 2004, after the group asked for it back because of comments he made regarding the conflict in Gaza. 

Turkey's US ambassador wrote to Jack Rosen, president of the American Jewish Congress, on Erdogan's behalf saying that because of Israel's actions in Gaza and "the regrettable stance" of the American Jewish Congress, Erdogan "will be glad to return the award." The letter, dated July 27, was made available Tuesday. 

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Sunday 27 July 2014

Surge of Online Antisemitism in France

FSWC Reports:

From ynetnews.com:

As the war in Israel rages on, with Operation Protective Edge into its third week, the war online continues to intensify.

France, in particular, has seen some of the worst demonstrations and violence in condemning Israel's strike against Gaza, as anti-Israel demonstrators spent last weekend protesting, attempting to break into two Paris synagogues and vandalizing a kosher butcher shop. 

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Israel's Yad Vashem Concerned by Antisemitism and Use of Holocaust References in Response to Gaza Conflict

FSWC Reports:

From ynetnews.com:

Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, has expressed deep concern over the recently escalating anti-Semitism and violence against Jews around the world in response to the Israeli operation in Gaza. 

"Physical and verbal violence against Jews in purported response to the events in Gaza, is anti-Semitism," the Holocaust museum said in a statement Thursday.

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Thursday 24 July 2014

Israeli Soccer Team Attacked by Anti-Israel Protesters

FSWC Reports:

From ynetnews.com with contribution from Associated Press:

Anti-Israel protesters invaded the pitch and physically confronted Maccabi Haifa players towards the end of a Wednesday training match in Austria. Officials called time on the match against French club Lille at the 86th minute. 

The players left the dressing room – under protection – an hour after the match ended because some protesters had remained outside the stadium.  

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Belgian Cafe Sign: Dogs Allowed, But Not Zionists

FSWC Reports:

From ynetnews.com:

Concerns of anti-Semitism flared in Belgium on Wednesday when police converged on a street cafe in Saint-Nicolas, near Liege, where the owner of the establishment had posted a sign in French stating, "Dogs are allowed in this establishment but Zionists are not under any circumstances."

An additional sign was hung in Turkish, which replaced the word "Zionists" with "Jews". The cafe's display was complete with an Israeli flag sporting a red X over it and an untouched Palestinian flag alongside. 

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Wednesday 23 July 2014

U.S. Nazi Suspect Dies Before Extradition

FSWC Reports:

From the Associated Press:

An 89-year-old Nazi war crimes suspect died in custody hours before a U.S. ruling Wednesday that he should be extradited to Germany to face trial.

Johann Breyer died Tuesday night at a Philadelphia hospital, where he had been transferred Saturday after a month in jail, his lawyer and the U.S. Marshals Service said. His death was disclosed Wednesday just as U.S. Magistrate Timothy Rice approved the extradition request, which would still have needed final U.S. government review.

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Tuesday 22 July 2014

Organizer of Pro-Palestinian Rally in Calgary to Apologize for Violence as Antisemitism Taints Rallies in Support of Gaza Palestinians Worldwide

FSWC Reports:

From the National Post:

One of the organizers of a pro-Palestinian protest in Calgary last Friday plans to apologize publicly to pro-Israeli demonstrators who were beaten up during the event. 

It was just one of a growing list of marches across Canada and around the world that are being tainted by violence and anti-Semitic slogans.

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European Leaders Condemn Antisemitism at Pro-Palestinian Rallies. Mosque in Germany Under Investigation Over Sermon From Imam Allegedly Calling on Worshippers to Murder Jews

FSWC Reports:

From the Associated Press via the National Post:

The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Italy on Tuesday condemned the rise in anti-Semitic protests and violence over the conflict in Gaza, saying they will do everything possible to combat it in their countries. 

“Anti-Semitic rhetoric and hostility against Jews, attacks on people of Jewish belief and synagogues have no place in our societies,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, France’s Laurent Fabius and Italy’s Federica Mogherini said in a joint statement issued in Brussels.

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Florida Town Shocked by News of Police Ties to Ku Klux Klan

FSWC Reports:

From the Associated Press via Florida Today:

Ann Hunnewell and her central Florida police officer husband knelt in the living room of a fellow officer's home, with pillow cases as makeshift hoods over their heads. A few words were spoken and they, along with a half-dozen others, were initiated into the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, she says.

Last week, that five-year-old initiation ceremony stunned residents of the small town of Fruitland Park, who found out an investigative report linked two city officers with the secret hate society that once was violently active in the area. Ann Hunnewell's ex-husband, George Hunnewell, was fired, and deputy chief David Borst resigned from the 13-member Fruitland Park Police Department. Borst has denied being a member.

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Sunday 20 July 2014

American Comedian Condemned for Nazi Jokes

FSWC Reports:

From ynetnews.com:

Comedienne and "Chelsea Lately" host Chelsea Handler may have lost a fan in the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Earlier this week, Handler’s sidekick Chuy Bravo appeared on stage wearing an Adolf Hitler costume. When asked why he was dressed that way, he responded: "Because Germany won the World Cup."
 
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Turkish Prime Minister: Israel "Surpasses Hitler in Barbarism"

FSWC Reports:

From Reuters:

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel on Saturday of having "surpassed Hitler in barbarism" through its attacks on Gaza, but warned Turks against taking out their anger on the country's Jewish community. 

Erdogan continued to ratchet up his rhetoric against the Jewish State over its offensive, threatening to further harm to already badly frayed relations between the two countries, once regional allies. 
 
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Thursday 17 July 2014

Turkish Newspaper Accuses Country's Jews of Supporting the Killing of Muslims. Calls to Boycott Israeli Goods & Jewish-Owned Businesses Gaining Momentum on Social Media

FSWC Reports:

From ynetnews.com:

A Turkish daily affiliated with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the country's Jewish community to apologize for the Palestinian casualties of the Israeli operation in Gaza.

"You came here after being banished from Spain," Yeni Akit correspondent Faruk Köse wrote Wednesday in an open letter to Hakham Bashi, the chief rabbi of Turkey's Jewish community. "You have lived comfortably among us for 500 years and gotten rich at our expense. Is this your gratitude – killing Muslims? Erdogan, demand that the community leader apologize!" 

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Tuesday 15 July 2014

Jews Outside of Israel Attacked Over Gaza Conflict

FSWC Reports:

From ynetnews.com:

In additional to fiery anti-Israel protests in almost every Western capital, the Israeli operation in Gaza has also led to violent attacks against Jews in France, Morocco and Australia. 

The Diaspora Jewry is watching the situation in Israel and in the Jewish communities themselves with great concern. Many of the Jewish community members are translating their unbreakable bond with Israel into rallies of support for the Jewish state. This is what Operation Protective Edge looks like in Jewish eyes overseas. 

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Turkish Prime Minister Compares Israel's Policy in the Gaza Strip to Hitler

FSWC Reports:

From AFP and ynetnews.com:

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday stepped up his rhetoric against Israel over its deadly air offensive on Gaza when he compared Israel to Adolf Hitler, Turkish daily Hurriyet reported. 

Erdogan reportedly told members of his party that Israel's policies regarding the Palestinians were no different to the mentality of the Nazi leader.  

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Monday 14 July 2014

German Victory Over Brazil in World Cup Game Sparks Nazi References

FSWC Reports:

From ynetnews.com:

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has condemned a series of Nazi and Holocaust references flooding social media in response to Germany’s 7-1 victory over Brazil in the World Cup semifinals, calling the phenomenon "insulting to the German team and demeaning to Holocaust survivors and victims."  

According to news reports, on July 7 some 14,000 tweets referring to the match included the word "Nazi" or "Nazis." That number quadrupled on the day of the game to more than 95,000 "Nazi" references. 

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Sunday 13 July 2014

Pro-Palestinian Protestors Try to Force Their Way Into Paris Synagogues

FSWC Reports:

From Fox News with Contribution from the Associated Press:

Recent violence in Gaza raised tensions in France Sunday as pro-Palestinian protesters tried to force their way into a Paris synagogue with bats and chairs, then fought with security officers who blocked their way, according to police and a witness.

Sunday's unrest by a few dozen troublemakers came at the end of sizable protest in the French capital demanding an end to Israeli strikes on Gaza and accusing Western leaders of not doing enough to stop them.

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Morocco Rabbi Beaten Over Israeli Actions in Gaza Strip

FSWC Reports:

From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency

The rabbi of the Jewish community in Casablanca, Morocco, was beaten allegedly because of Israel’s Gaza operation. 

Rabbi Moshe Ohayon was attacked Friday night as he walked to synagogue for Sabbath services, according to local and Israeli reports.

 

Play About Simon Wiesenthal to Debut in New York City This Winter

FSWC Reports:

From the Associated Press:

A one-man play about famed Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal will make its New York premiere this winter. 

Tom Dugan, who wrote and stars in "Wiesenthal," will present the play from Oct. 24- Feb. 1, at the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row. Jenny Sullivan will direct.

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Turkish Singer Under Fire for Antisemitic Tweets

FSWC Reports:

From AFP via ynetnews.com:

A popular Turkish female pop singer was under pressure Friday to make a public apology after she posted a succession of anti-Semitic tweets over Israel's air campaign in Gaza.

Yildiz Tilbe, who has been making folk-influenced hit albums since the 1990s, appeared to praise Hitler in the tweets and say the end of the Jews was near. 

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Friday 11 July 2014

Russian President Commits to Fighting Antisemitism

FSWC Reports:

From ynetnews.com:

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with a delegation of rabbis from Israel and the Rabbinical Center of Europe in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss joint efforts to prevent the rewriting of history, the struggle against neo-Nazism and neo-fascism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. 

The delegation included Russia's Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, Israel's Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Rabbinical Center of Europe General Director Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Antwerp's Chief Rabbi David Moshe Lieberman, Holland's Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Lichtenstein, head of the Federation of Synagogues of London, Rabbi Yirmiyahu Cohen of Paris and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia Alexander Beard.

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Thursday 10 July 2014

French President Pledges to Try and Make Jews Feel Safer

FSWC Reports:

From the Associated Press via ynetnews.com:

The head of the European Jewish Congress has appealed for European governments to take tougher action against anti-Semitism – and has made France his starting point.

French citizens are suspected in the two deadliest attacks against European Jewish institutions in the past few years – a shooting at the Brussels Jewish Museum in May, and an attack on a Jewish school in Toulouse, southwestern France, in 2012.

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Sunday 6 July 2014

Man Saved From Nazis by "Japan's Schindler" Returns on a Journey of Homage

FSWC Reports:

From Reuters:

In 1940, a small Jewish boy fleeing the Nazis put in to a remote Japanese port, saved by a Japanese consul who issued exit visas from Lithuania against his government's orders, rescuing thousands of desperate European Jews from certain death.

Leo Melamed arrived in Japan with little more than the clothes on his back but went on to the United States, becoming a lawyer and head of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), where he introduced the idea of financial futures trading.
 
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Friday 4 July 2014

Founder of Jewish Renewal Movement Dies

FSWC Reports:

From the Associated Press:

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, a founder of the Jewish Renewal movement and a widely influential figure in contemporary Jewish thought and practice, has died in his Boulder, Colorado, home. He was 89. 

Schachter-Shalomi, known to his followers as Reb Zalman, died Thursday morning in his sleep after a long illness, Rivkah Walton of the Alliance for Jewish Renewal said.

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Wednesday 2 July 2014

Nazis' Perfect Aryan "Propaganda Baby" Was Actually Jewish

FSWC Reports:

From ynetnews.com:

The ideal Aryan child promoted by the Nazi regime and personally picked by Joseph Goebbels during the Holocaust was actually a Jewish baby.

Hessy Taft, nee Levinsons, now an 80-year-old professor of chemistry in New York, recently presented Yad Vashem with the cover of a 1935 Nazi magazine on which she appeared. 

 
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