Report of Anti-Semitic Incidents - Apr-99

Report of Anti-Semitic Incidents - April 1999

General

A relatively large number of incidents were recorded in April connected with the commemoration of Hitlers birthday which fell on April 20th.

In Russia violent incidents are on the rise, a trend that began in early 1999.

The incidents include explosions near or in Jewish installations and are apparently of an anti- semitic nature.

Britain - In two separate incidents, unidentified persons fired shots at the window of the Maccabi building and the Catford and Bromley Affiliated synagogue in London. In both cases windows in the building were shattered. The background to the actions is unclear.

An unidentified person threatened two worshippers with a broken bottle when they came out of a synagogue in Manchester.

Stones were thrown at the home of a Jew in Salford, Manchester, accompanied by anti-Semitic remarks.

Unknown persons broke into the construction site of the new Jewish school in Barkingside, London. A number of items were stolen and swastikas and the letters C-18 were drawn.

Austria - Abusive slogans and Nazi symbols were sprayed by unknown persons on the gravestones in the Jewish cemetery in Graz. The incident was close to Hitlers birthday on April 20th.

Germany - During the night between the 20th and 21st of April (Hitlers birthday), the Jewish cemetery in Nuremberg was desecrated. Some 85 gravestones were smashed.

A woman entered the Keren Hayesod offices in Berlin and verbally attacked the representative. Among other things she said Hitler did not do enough.

Bulgaria - Three Molotov cocktails were hurled towards morning into the Jewish school in Sofia. No one was hurt and only slight damage was caused.

Belarus - Unknown persons poured inflammable material on the entrance door to the Minsk synagogue and ignited it. Anti-Semitic slogans were also written on the synagogue walls. The door was slightly damaged.

Russia - There were three explosions In Moscow - one in late April and two in May. The first occurred beside the service elevator in the Intourist hotel next to Red Square and the Duma building. The explosion took place on the floor where a Jewish company is located. The second explosion took place some 50 meters from the Great Choral synagogue on Archipova street. The charge was placed under a car and exploded during the prayer service. There was no damage to the synagogue and no one was injured. The third explosion occurred near the Habad Marina Roshcha synagogue. The charge apparently exploded two buildings away from the synagogue. No damage was caused to the synagogue and no one was hurt. The background to the attacks is unclear.

Dagestan - The Jewish cemetery was desecrated in the city of Mahachkala, Dagestan, a republic in the south west of Russia in the Caucasus mountains, Some 40 gravestones were damaged.

Latvia - Two explosions caused damage to the memorial for Holocaust victims

in the Rumbula forest in Riga. The identity of the perpetrators and the background to the action are unclear.

Brazil - Unknown persons defaced a display in the center of the Jubilee square in Sao Paolo. The construction which was dedicated in September 1998 is a 4-meter high copper Star of David in the center of which is a bronze statue of the silver platter with appropriate inscriptions in Hebrew and Portuguese. A swastika and the numbers 88 (the first two letters of Heil Hitler in numerology) were carved on the construction.

Guatemala - Unknown persons carved a swastika and the letters SS on the outside wall of the Sefardi Magen David synagogue, as well as the slogan Achtung Juden (Jews Beware) and a drawing of a skull.

South Africa - On Hitlers birthday (April 20th), a pigs head was thrown into the yard of the Crawford/Carmel school in Pretoria. This school had once been owned by the Jewish community and many Israeli and Jewish pupils study there today.

U.S. - Fires of an anti-Semitic nature occurred in two schools in Denver, Colorado. Unknown persons poured kerosene in the shape of a 15-meter swastika on the lawn of both schools and lit them.

Australia - Unknown persons broke into and robbed a synagogue in Melbourne. A swastika and abusive/accusing slogans were also drawn on the synagogue walls.

In two separate incidents in Melbourne unidentified persons shouted derogatory remarks at worshippers on their way to and from the synagogue and threw eggs at them.

Britain - Threatening letters were received at the office of the Chief Rabbi of London, the Anglo-Israel Chamber of Commerce and the editorial offices of the Jewish Chronicle and Manchester Jewish Telegraph, as well as various council members. The letters were sent by an organization called the White Wolves and contained threats that if all non-Whites and Jews did not leave the British Isles by the end of 1999 they would be eliminated.

A threatening phonecall was received at the King Solomon high school. The caller said All the Jews are going to die a number of times. In another conversation the caller said that a bomb might explode on the premises. Nothing was found when the school was searched.

Britain - An anti-Semitic letter was received at the Holocaust Educational Trust comparing all the Jews to dogs and parasites as the holy Adolf Hitler had called them. The letter also said that everything should be done to destroy the Jews.

A letter was received by the Jewish Historical Society of England containing anti-Semitic newspaper clippings and remarks.

An anonymous letter was received by the Board complaining that at Easter time people have to watch documentary films on the Holocaust and that the sender believed the claim that the Jews profit greatly from the Holocaust. This year Easter fell close to Holocaust Memorial Day.

Anti-Semitic pamphlets were found in a music store in London on the day Holocaust Memorial Day ceremonies were taking place.

Anti-Semitic phonecalls were received at a number of Jewish institutions in London and Liverpool.

Combat-18 stickers were pasted to the gate of the Hammersmith and West Kensington synagogue.

The owner of a kosher food shop in Ilford, Essex was cursed with statements such as You fucking Jews are all going to be blown up.

France - Abusive slogans were drawn on walls not far from the Tournelles synagogue.

Bulgaria - An anti-Semitic article was published in the Monitor newspaper by Volen Siderov, a veteran influential journalist. The article denounces the attacks on Yugoslavia and is divided into two parts - the first defines the U.S. as the new Judah which operates exactly according to the same invalid values of the Jews and is replete with old anti-Semitic ideas. In the second part of the article the writer explains why Orthodox Christianity is the true Christianity.

In the first part the author once again proves that the Jews are those responsible for the killing of Jesus. He brings evidence of the cruel and thieving character of the Jews down through the ages, proves that Judaism is derived from paganism and became monotheistic only at a later stage. He compares it to the faith of the proto-Bulgarians which he considers a monotheistic faith much more ancient than Judaism. In the same newspaper the president of the Jewish community published an article in response contesting Siderovs claims and refuting the anti-Semitic arguments. The writer subsequently published a reaction, as primitive and blunt as the first article, where he reiterated his arguments, claiming that they contained no anti-Semitism. He accused the head of the Jewish community that the reason for the existence of the Shalom organization which represents the Bulgarian Jewish community, is to look for anti-Semitism.

Poland - Dariusz Ratajczak, a young historian from the Opole university published a book at his own expense where he maintained that there was no plan for the destruction of the Jews. The gas chambers were used for purification and not destruction and the Jews in Auschwitz died of malnutrition and not as a result of the use of gas chambers.

Argentina - Abusive slogans, swastikas and Nazi symbols were drawn on the walls of the psychology faculty in Cordoba.

Swastikas were drawn in various places in the Once neighbourhood in Buenos Aires.

Panama - On Hitlers birthday a large swastika was drawn on the statue that was given by the Shalom Association to the State of Israel on the 50th Independence Day and which was erected on Israel street in Panama City.

Peru - On 20 April, Hitlers birthday, Peruvian television broadcasted a program on Channel 14 that expressed opinions on the Holocaust. The following facts were presented as part of the program: the number of Holocaust victims was 4,300,000 and not six million; the concentration camps were set up by the Jews; European Jewry collaborated closely with the Nazis and enabled the Holocaust to take place; Anna Franks book is not authentic,

Neither are other facts. The Jewish community issued its protest to the director-general of the Peruvian media company which is responsible for operating the television station.

U.S. - Anti-Semitic pamphlets were distributed in Charlotte, North Carolina in the synagogue, bookstore and grocery store. The pamphlets had a picture of Hitler, a swastika and the statement April is Hitler month! Happy birthday!. Swastikas were also drawn on the entrance to an apartment building and five parked cars.

In an interview on an NBC morning show presidential candidate Pat Buchanan made a racist remark. Buchanan complained that the Harvard student body is made up of some 20 per cent Asians and some 30 per cent Jews which leaves proportionately too little place for white Christians. According to him a multi-cultural society which defends the rights of all the groups comprising the population must guarantee a majority representation in the student body and the university faculties to the group which constitutes the majority in the population and not the minorities.

Australia - Swastikas were drawn on an envelope received in a private post box at a New South Wales post office.

Swastikas were drawn on the war memorial in Sydney and in Melbourne on a clubhouse wall.

An abusive slogan containing the words Heil Hitler was drawn on one of the walls of a university in Sydney.

Anti-Semitic cassettes were distributed to private homes in Launceston in Tasmania as well as anti-Semitic mail to individuals. Pamphlets blaming the Jews for the events in Kosovo and for Bolshevism were distributed in Launceston as well.

Four families in Sydney received accusing mail which called to kill the Jews, the reptiles of humanity.

Holocaust denial electronic mail signed by Adolf Hitler was sent twice to a Jewish institution in Sydney.

Racist electronic mail defending the right-wing One Nation party was received on four occasions by a Jewish community organization. Electronic mail was also received on a number of occasions accusing the Jews of supporting the Australian natives.

Various types of electronic mail continues to be sent to the AUS.POLITICS site accusing the Jews of murdering Jesus and the fact that 100 million persons were killed in the name of Jewish communism.

Right-wing magazines such as Target, Strategy and Exposure continue to publish anti-Semitic and racist articles which among other things accuse the Jews and Zionism of the situation in Kosovo. Many articles denounce the vice-president of the Jewish Community Executive and anti-Semitic fighter, calling him a Zionist terror machine. Other articles concentrate on Jewish/Zionist control of the media and of governments.

An article in the Intelligence Survey of the League of Rights, praised a

Canadian Holocaust denier and denounced Canadas Thought Police. Scott Balson, a member of the right-wing One Nation party, published articles defending the Holocaust denier Frederick Toben.

An advertisement appeared in the Exposure newspaper for the sale of the 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion' . The Adelaide Institute magazine continues to publish Holocaust denial articles and blames the Jews for inventing Bolshevism.

An Internet site against the Talmud publishes articles on the anti-Christian Jewish laws which permit Jews to lie, murder and steal from Gentiles. The site refers to the Australian newspaper tycoon Rupert Murdoch and claims that he is controlled by Jews. The site also denounces the Bnai Brith organization and defines the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as a secret international Zionist espionage organization which hates Christians.

South Africa - The Sunday Independent newspaper quoted a member of the New National Party (NNP) who said that Tony Leon, the leader of the democratic party in South Africa and MP is a Little Jewboy who worries only about Israel and nothing else...". The Jewish Committee wrote a letter of complaint to the NNP leader in response.

Swastikas, SS symbols and the words Where is your Reich? were drawn on the walls of an old building in a residential area in Johannesburg. Swastikas were also drawn on the wall of a water reservoir.

Britain - Anthony Sawonick, aged 78, was sentenced to two life imprisonment sentences after he was accused of murdering with his own hands 18 Jews in his hometown Domchevo, Belarus in 1942. This was the end of the first trial of a Nazi criminal in Britain.

Germany - The trial opened of the Nazi criminal and Gestapo agent Alfins Goetzfried. Goetzfried admitted that he killed some 500 people when he worked in the Maidanek death camp.

Austria - Heinrich Gross, aged 83, a former Nazi doctor who was accused in the past of conducting experiments on children and later became a famous gynecologist in Vienna, is to stand trial for the murder of at least five children during his work in the childrens clinic Am Spiegelgrund in Steinhof, Vienna.

Bulgaria - Two youths were caught drawing swastikas and abusive slogans on the walls of the Sofia synagogue. They were made to erase the graffiti and were then released.

Poland - The book of the Holocaust denier Ratajczak caused a public storm in Poland. Former foreign minister Bartoszewski, himself an Auschwitz prisoner, defined Ratajczak as a sick anti-Semite. Bartoszewski added that he hoped that Ratajczak would come to his senses and understand that not only Jews but Poles as well were destroyed in the gas chambers in Auschwitz. The historian himself was fired from his position at the Opole university and the local prosecutor in the city filed a suit against him for what was called the Auschwitz Lie. Ratajczak said he was not an anti-Semite and that what was published in his book were not his private opinions but those of Western historians who disagree with the conclusions of Holocaust research.

Russia - On 19 April, 1999 the district court in Moscow ruled to make the Moscow branch of the Neo-Nazi Russian National Unity (RNE) organization illegal. The organization calls for a dictatorship of ethnic Russians and has many branches throughout Russia. RNE members use symbols and salutes very similar to those used by the Nazis in Germany.

Another Moscow municipal court canceled the registration of the Neo-Nazi newspaper Russian Order. The newspaper did not send copies as required to the Publications Committee to prove its existence and activity and also did not present its regulations to the same committee since its registration.

Belarus - Two youths were arrested on suspicion of attempted arson and writing abusive slogans on the walls of the Minsk synagogue.

The editorial office of the Slavyanskaya Gazeta, which published extremely anti-Semitic articles, was closed in accordance with the law prohibiting the publication of inciting propaganda.

Latvia - Leonard Inkis, an anti-Semitic activist in Riga, was arrested. He is the publisher of the anti-Semitic book The Terrible Years. Anti-Semitic publications, including documents connecting him to the explosion at the Rumbula site this month and the synagogue explosion last year, were found in his apartment.

Peru - Following a Holocaust denial television program which was broadcast on Hitlers birthday, Prof. Leon Tratenberg, a professor of education dealing with Jewish education in the community, published an article expressing reservations on the broadcast. In the article Tratenberg discusses the modus operandi of the Neo-Nazi Holocaust deniers whose goal is to transfer the responsibility for Nazi crimes in World War II to the Jews. Tratenberg also denounced the use intellectuals make of the beginning of the 21st century on public platforms to sow prejudice and hatred.

U.S. - A legislator in Arizona was forced to apologize to her Jewish colleague for telling her that she could not possibly be a Jewess as she did not have a large hooked nose (the stereotype Jewish nose). The legislator expressed herself in that manner when her colleague and other Jewish legislators said they had to leave the budget debates to prepare for Passover eve.

Black and Jewish activists announced their plan to reenact the freedom rides of the sixties from New York to Mississippi. These trips had brought activists from the north to the south for human rights demonstrations. The bus convoy planned to leave in June will symbolize the 35th anniversary of the murder of two Jewish activists from New York and a black activist from Mississippi by members of the Klu Klux Klan.

A jury In New Jersey decided that the WWOR-TV television station would pay ten million dollars to a religiously observant Jewish journalist for firing her after should could not fulfill tasks given her to perform on the Sabbath. The journalist claimed they did not respect her religion.

In late March a New Jersey court ruled against an 18 year old youth who was arrested in late 1998 for drawing swastikas and accusing slogans against Jews and Blacks and for threats against school students. The court sentenced the boy to write a letter of apology to anti-racism organizations such as the ADL, 40 hours of public service with school janitors and another 260 hours in community service. The boy was also to receive consultation on tolerance towards religion and race and self-control.

An immigration judge in Chicago ordered the deportation of Vincas Valkavickas from the U.S. by 30 June if the accused did not decide to leave the country of his own free will. Valkavickas was accused of serving as an armed guard during the 2-day massacre of 3,700 Jews in Lithuania in 1941. He admitted to concealing the fact of his activity during the war when he requested to immigrate to the U.S. He agreed to leave the country of his own free will and return to Lithuania.

Australia - Michael Brander, leader of the nationalist, National Action party, lost the case in which he sued the editor of Messengers Newspapers for libel in an article in 1995 where he called Brander a racist. The court in Adelaide where the trial took place, ruled that Brander does not deserve damages for libel as he is indeed a racist of the worst kind. The judge based his findings on the partys principles which include, among other things, Holocaust denial and refraining from denouncing Hitler and his Nazi party. The judge added that Brander and his party incite to racism, use Nazi symbols and make use of hostility and threats to intimidate their opponents.

Australia/Germany - In April, 1999, Dr. Frederick Toben from Australia was arrested in Mannheim, Germany. Toben established the Adelaide Institute which has disseminated anti-Semitic and Holocaust denial propaganda for years. A federal action for violation of citizens rights was filed against Toben and his institute for their activity in the Executive Council of Australia. The action is the first of its kind filed in Australia. Before his trip to Germany Toben published an announcement on his Internet site that he would go to Germany to challenge the German law prohibiting Holocaust denial propaganda and speak with judges, prosecutors and others on freedom of speech. When he arrived in Mannheim he was arrested for desecrating the memory of the dead and he will stand trial. The maximum punishment for Holocaust denial in Germany is five years in prison.

South Africa - The 702 radio station, considered the most popular in South Africa for news and guest shows, was convicted of harm to the Jewish organization Jewish Defence League for calling it a terrorist organization.

Poland - On 22 April the Polish senate passed an amendment resolution to the Nazi Concentration Camps Law which allows the removal of the 200 crosses placed at the entrance to the Auschwitz concentration camp. According to the amendment the large cross used by Pope John Paul II on his visit to Auschwitz in 1979 would remain in place. This resolution requires the approval of the upper house.