Report of Anti-Semitic Incidents - Apr-98

Report of Anti-Semitic Incidents - April, 1998

General

Two attacks against Jewish targets were recorded in Greece and Latvia in April. In Athens two explosive charges exploded in the building of the 'Central Committee of the Jewish Communities in Greece', and in Riga a demolition charge exploded in the Great Habad Synagogue. In both cases damage was caused but no one was hurt.

At the same time there was a marked increase in the number of violent incidents. These were generally attacks against Jews on the street

(especially in Britain) and the desecration of graves and memorial sites

(in Latvia, Canada and Argentina).

There was also a prominent increase in the number of threats against Jews and Jewish facilities recorded in April.

Anti-Semitic propaganda continues to appear in publications, over the Internet, in the electronic mail and 'in the street' in various countries throughout the world.

It appears that at least some of the incidents mentioned are connected with Holocaust Day (close to which there is a rise in anti-Semitic manifestations every year), and in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the State of Israel. This is because anti-Semitic elements identify the Jews with Israel and these events acted as a 'trigger' to spread anti-Jewish feeling. The attack in Latvia, however, is also a (violent) expression of the general increase in anti-Semitism conspicuous in that country lately.

In some countries in South America there is an apparent increase in crime and the abduction of persons for ransom. Although the background is not necessarily anti-Semitic, Jews are sometimes the victims.

Attacks and Incidents

Greece - On 23 April, 1998 (Holocaust Day) in the afternoon, two explosive charges exploded in the building of the 'Central Committee of the Jewish Communities in Greece' (the 'Kis', the umbrella organization of the Jewish communities in Greece) in Athens. No one was injured in the attack and only slight damage was caused due to a fire on the premises which was extinguished after a short while. An organization called 'Solidarity International' assumed responsibility for the attack. According to the announcement, the organization perpetrated the attack out of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The attack was denounced by the Greek Minister of Information and by government elements of the entire political spectrum in Greece.

Latvia - On 2 April, 1998, in the early morning hours, a demolition charge exploded Riga`s Great Habad Synagogue which is situated in the old city on Peitavas street. No one was injured in the attack. The building's windows and doors were damaged, as were the windows and doors of buildings adjacent to the synagogue. In 1995 an explosive charge also exploded in the same synagogue and those responsible for planting the bomb have still not been found. The Prime Minister of Latvia and senior government officials strongly denounced the attack. The Latvian government appointed a commission of inquiry on the subject.

The explosion occurred at the end of a long period of increased anti-Jewish incidents at the grassroots and government levels. For example, on 16 March, 1998, the Chief of General Staff of the Latvian army participated in a march of former Latvian SS soldiers which took place in Riga. Given the number of anti-Semitic incidents whose perpetrators were apparently from the radical right, (according to various signs, such as Nazi symbols that were drawn), it is possible that this incident was also perpetrated by these elements, although there is no information confirming this.

On the night between 3-4 April, 1998, a Jewish memorial site was desecrated at the cemetery in Liepaya (a city in north west Latvia). A swastika was drawn on the monument by stencil.

Britain - During the Passover vacation, youths attacked the Borehamwood and Elstree synagogue in Hertfordshire four times. The synagogue windows were smashed by stones thrown at them and by shots from an air rifle. On other occasions, youths penetrated the synagogue courtyard and kicked articles that were there. The background to the action is not known.

In the intermediate days of the Passover holiday three worshippers from one family were attacked while on their way to a prayer service in the 'Shaarei Tehillah' synagogue in Manchester by six youths aged about 14-17. The boys tried to knock the hat off of one of the worshippers but two members of the family succeeded in chasing the boys away.

During the first week of April, school pupils threw stones at the 'Beit Hapardess' school in London. This occurred three times during the week. A few days before the stone throwing incident, pupils from the Beit Hapardess school were attacked while traveling on a bus by the same group of pupils, mostly girls. The police intervened.

At the end of March two youths tried to rob a Jewish-owned store. When they did not succeed, they threw a wooden beam at the store owner's son, injuring his arm. On their way out of the store they shouted at the owners, 'Jews, give us your money'. A few days later, at the beginning of April, youths entered the store once more and threw things around.

At the end of March, a group of youths attacked a Jewish boy in the Stanmore neighbourhood in London and beat him. The boy succeeded in running away but when he tried to get help the youths hit him again, while reminding him of his Jewishness.

Youths of Asian origin attacked a father and son in Salford. The youths threw things at them from a passing car. They drove back and forth and did this a number of times.

A group of Jews ran after a Jew in Manchester. The Jew escaped to one of the yards in the street. A rabbi who was passing by and heard the commotion entered the place where the incident was going on and asked what was happening. The youths beat the rabbi while the rest of the group cheered. The youths caused the rabbi fractures and internal bleeding. One of the attackers was identified as being involved in an attack in a Jewish store in town.

Canada - During the week of Holocaust Day, the Jewish cemetery was desecrated in St. Catherines (close to the U.S. border, near Buffalo, in the province of Ontario). Forty-three gravestones were smashed and/or moved from their place. The local police is investigating the incident and arrested a 20 year old suspect who is identified with Neo-Nazi organizations.

Uruguay - On Passover during a soccer game between the Maccabi and the Habonim-Dror teams which took place on the Habonim-Dror playing field, a stone was thrown at the playing field which hit a glass window and broke it. The stone thrower fled. The background to the incident is unclear.

Argentina - At the beginning of the month, a memorial to Yitzhak Rabin was desecrated in the city of La Plata (the capital of Buenos Aires province). The memorial had been erected a few months ago in one of the city squares. The background to the action is unknown.

Threats

Britain - An anonymous threat was left on the electronic answering machine in the Harrow and Wembley Progressive synagogue in the Middlesex area close to Holocaust Day events. In the statementthe speaker said 'Be careful, you stupid Jews, there is an intention to blow you up tomorrow - Sinners'.

France - During celebrations and a dance which took place for young people in the Strasbourg community in a building rented for the event, a threat was received on the planting of a bomb in the building where the event in Strasbourg was taking place. The caller noted that the bomb was planted for Hamas revenge.

An anonymous announcement was received on the eve of Holocaust Day by the guard of the Great Synagogue in Marseilles on the planting of a bomb. The threat said: 'The Dome hall is going to blow up'. A week later celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel took place in that hall where a large crowd participated.

Germany - An anonymous threat of harm to the Jews was received during the Passover holiday on the answering machine of the Jewish community in Dusseldorf.

An anonymous threat on the planting of a bomb was received in the Jewish community building in Munich. The building was searched but nothing was found.

U.S. - An anonymous threat of a bomb that would explode during an event celebrating the State of Israel's 50th anniversary was received on the answering machine of the Jewish federation in Orlando. The announcement said 'Israel at 50, Boom!'.

Argentina - Threatening letters and many threatening announcements were received in April at the Mayo Banco in Buenos Aires. For example, in a letter which was sent to the bank it was written that the Mayo Banco is a financial center for the Zionist organizations in Argentina. The bank must stop its Zionist activity, otherwise terrorist acts in Buenos Aires and in Argentina would be perpetrated against the bank, including the use of chemical warfare means. The bank must pay a ransom of one million dollars

(with instructions for transferring the ransom money). In all of the threats there is reference to biological/chemical weapons, quotes from the Bible and a demand for cash ransom.

An additional anonymous threat on the planting of a bomb was received at the branch of the Mayo bank in Salta.

A threat of the planting of a bomb in the 'Hebraica' building was received by the reporter of the Cronica television station. The reporter contacted the police who got a court order to evacuate the building and close off the adjoining streets. The entire event was widely broadcast live over a number of television networks and aroused concern within the community. The threat was a false alarm.

A telephone threat was received on the answering machine of the 'Natan Gesang' Jewish school.

Anti-Semitic Propaganda

Britain - At the conference of International Women's Day which took place in London it was possible to buy anti-Semitic Iranian literature, such as the Iranian version of the book by Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy. At the stand selling the books a flyer was distributed with a list of books and various Iranian monthlies which could be ordered. Among the books anti-Semitic and radical books also appeared.

From a school bus that passed opposite the King David school in Manchester one of the pupils waved a piece of paper on which was written 'Fuck all of you Jews' while the rest of the pupils banged on the bus windows to catch people's attention.

Passengers in a car driving by shouted foul expressions at passersby opposite the Edgware and District Reform synagogue in the Edgware neighbourhood in London.

In the underground subway station in Gant Hill in Essex, placards were seen entitled ''The Holocaust - a confirmed fact or a Hollywood tale'. The placards were signed by the Al-Muhajiroun Islamic organization. The train authorities removed the placards, apologized for the discomfort caused by them and promised to see that such things would not happen again.

A Jewish social organization in Newcastle received anti-Semitic e-mail that said that the Jewish nation is anti-Semitic and it derives benefit from the persecution against it. 'We are all human, but you call the non-Jews Gentiles. Your approach sickens me. I cry for the Palestinians'.

A large number of Jewish organizations such as 'Zionist Youth', the 'Board', 'Jewish Students' Organization' and others received e-mail from the Al-Muhajiroun organization where Israel was called a cancer and the Holocaust was denied. A few days after the first e-mail, some of these organizations received more hostile e-mail from Al-Muhajiroun entitled 'The Rhetoric of Anti-Semitism'.

A group of youths marched with arms outstretched in the Nazi salute opposite the 'Torah Temimah' school in London and threw things at a school bus that was passing by.

Spain - A number of swastikas were drawn signed by the Combat-18 organization on the walls of Bairro Gotica in Barcelona.

Romania - In the Atac La Persona newspaper an anti-Semitic article was published dealing with the Jews, entitled, 'Roger Garaudy - A Philosopher Attacked by the Jewish Mafia'. The author writes that in his book Garaudy destroys the basic myths of Israeli politics. He tries to justify Garaudy and explains how, after the appearance of his book in 1995, pressure was brought to bear on him by the Zionist state, the purpose of which was to stor the book's distribution. According to the author of the article, the book attacks the 'forgery' in everything connected with the Holocaust and the use the Zionists make of it for the good of the Zionist state. The author further claims that the Yehudonim (written this way in the original - 'Yehudonim' - in Latin letters) make up the Jewish Mafia.

Mexico - During Holocaust and Martyrs Day three youths waved a Nazi flag while driving around the Jewish community center in Monterrey.

Uruguay - Swastikas and portraits of Hitler were drawn and pasted in Montevideo in the area where a square is planned to be constructed in memory of the victims of the Amia building attack (in Argentina). More abusive inscriptions were drawn in the Positos area, the main Jewish neighbourhood in Montevideo. The slogans drawn were accompanied by swastikas and symbols of the radical right-wing organization Juventud Oriental Nacionalista (J.O.N.).

Australia - Anti-Semitic remarks were heard at a shopping center in the Sydney suburbs. In a speech the Jews were accused of crucifying Jesus and of a Jewish conspiracy to ritualize the crucifixion.

An abusive letter was received at the home of the rabbi of north Sydney. The letter, which arrived from the 'Knights Templar' organization, claimed that the Jews use the 'Free Masons' to achieve a new world order.

A defamatory letter was sent to the editor of the 'Queensland Region' newspaper in which he was accused of serving Jewish interests by publishing criticism of the statements of the Holocaust denier Larouche.

New Zealand - On the eve of Holocaust and Martyrs' Day, the Wellington evening newspaper 'Evening Post' published an anti-Semitic article against the State of Israel, comparing the government's policy in the dispute with the Palestinians to that of the Nazis against the Jews during the Holocaust. Following the publication of the article and an appeal by official elements, the newspaper published letters to the editor denouncing the publication of the article.

Struggle Against Anti-Semitism

Sweden/France - The Swedish press notes that an investigation will be carried out on the subject of Ahmed Rami, the owner of the anti-Semitic radio station 'Radio Islam' (which is located in Sweden) and which broadcasts anti-Semitic propaganda, also on the Internet, in French. The newspapers note that in France, in contrast to Sweden, Holocaust denial

(one of the main proponents of which is Ahmed Rami) is against the law. The problem before the French and Swedish police is to prove who feeds the material into the Internet.

Portugal - Following the intervention of official elements, the distribution of Hitler's book 'Mein Kampf' was stopped in Lisbon. The director-general of the publishing house expressed his sorrow at the distribution of the book and admitted that he might have been mistaken in deciding to distribute the book in Portugal. He promised to halt the distribution immediately and to collect copies of the present edition which remained in the stores and not to distribute the new edition of the book.

Latvia - The Latvian Minister of Defence dismissed the Chief of General Staff General Yuris Davolin after he made a speech at a parade of veterans of the 'Latvian Legion' which had served in the S.S. The inspector general of the police was also dismissed for the responsibility of not having prevented the attack on the synagogue in Riga. Other senior officers were suspended until the reasons for the explosion were clarified. The background to their suspension was the police's faulty handling in recent months of nationalistic incidents.

Argentina - In the judgment handed down this month against three skinheads who were involved three years ago in attacking a Jew the law against racial discrimination passed in 1988 in Argentina was enforced, for the first time: The three were sentenced to three years imprisonment. When the judgment was read out, the representatives of the family became rowdy and insulted the heads of the Jewish community with expressions such as, 'They should have burned all the Jews'.

Algeria - In the French 'Liberation' newspaper of 1 April, 1998, the Algerian opposition party 'Front Des Forces Socialistes' (FFS) announced the cessation of the publication of the party organ 'Libre Algerie'. The reason for stopping the newspaper's publication was its printing a 'blatantly anti-Semitic' article in Arabic. This is the first time in the Arab-Muslim world that a newspaper is closed down for the printing of an anti-Semitic article.

Miscellaneous

France - Maurice Papon's trial which began in October 1997 ended this month. Papon was convicted of complicity in a crime against humanity as he had assisted in the arrest of many Jews who were subsequently deported to death camps. It was established, however, that Papon was not guilty of assisting in their murder. The court determined that Papon was aware of the German plan to persecute the Jews, but did not know of the 'Final Solution'. As a result he was sentenced to ten years imprisonment. He was divested of all his citizen's privileges such as the right to vote and be elected and he was fined 4,600,000 francs to be paid in damages to the victims who were deported by his order to the death camps and to their relatives. His lenient punishment and non-conviction of murder aroused bitterness in the Jewish community. They claimed he should have received a symbolical punishment of life imprisonment.

Citizen's rights were withdrawn from the leader of the radical right party Jean-Marie Le Pen for two years following the attack on a socialist woman politician on one of his tours. Due to the withdrawal of his right to vote and be elected, Le Pen, who is known for his anti-Semitic approach, will not be able to run for the European Parliament as he had planned in the coming elections next year.

Germany - In the local elections which took place on 26 April, 1998 in the state of Sachsen-Anhalt (formerly East Germany), the Deutsche Volks Union

(DVU) won 13 percent of the votes which is 16 seats in the local parliament. The DVU is a radical right-wing party, defined by the Bundesamt Fuer Verfassungsschutz (BFV - the 'Office for Preserving the Constitution'), as a radical right-wing party, anti-Semitic and xenophobic. Its activity was banned in a number of laender (states) in Germany and in others its activity is under BFV supervision. Gerhard Frey, a radical right-wing activist leads the party. Its achievements in the elections are the best a radical right-wing party has achieved in Germany since World War II. Ignatz Bubis, president of the Jewish community in Germany stated in reaction to the DVU's victory in the Sachsen-Anhalt elections that this was a case of the weakness of the authorities in Germany 'who did not have the insight to see the writing on the wall'. He added that the democratic parties of the center will have to work with determination not to enable the trend to continue. He noted that if the trend does continue, in another 2-3 years it will be very dangerous in Germany.

Denmark - The Danish media (written and electronic) recently dealt with a video cassette disseminated by Nazi elements to the public at large. (It can be purchased at certain branches of the post office throughout the country). It calls for the killing of four Danes known for their activity against Nazis in Denmark. Behind the dissemination of the video cassette is a Nazi of East German extraction by the name of Marcel Schilf who heads a company called NS-88 (the number represents the first letters of the words 'Heil Hitler'). Many elements regard him as one of the mainstays of the Neo-Nazi organization in Denmark. Complaints to the police were filed against the company in the past but as far as is known this has been to no avail.

Argentina/Croatia - The Croatian war criminal Dinko Sakic was arrested in Argentina following a research report on Channel 13 of Argentinan television. The investigation revealed that the Croatian Nazi had been the commandant of the Jasinova concentration camp. Yugoslavia's attorney general Vukasin Jokanovic filed a criminal suit against the above who had been the commandant of the Jasinova death camp representing the Ustasha of Croatia. In an official letter to the Argentinan government, he announced that Yugoslavia had information and documents proving the crimes committed at Jasinova under Sakic's command and he was therefore requesting his extradition. Argentina will apparently approve his extradition.