Report of Anti-Semitic Incidents - Oct-96

October, 1996

General

During October there was a slight decrease in the number of attacks and anti-Semitic incidents in comparison to September, but not in their severity. An explosive charge was detonated near a synagogue in Budapest and in a few European countries. In Argentina synagogues and cemeteries were desecrated. This was in addition to other violent incidents and threats against Jews in various places throughout the world. Some of the incidents were caused by radical right-wing elements.

In the sphere of propaganda antiseptic manifestations against Jews and Jewish installations continued in various places in Europe, South America, Australia and South Africa. Radical right-wing elements were responsible for most of these. However, in demonstrations in Strasbourg, France and South Africa they were radical Islamic elements who shouted anti-Jewish slogans.

In the sphere of struggle, the authorities in Canada intend to limit the activity of the neo-Nazi Holocaust denier, Ernst Zundel.

Following an appeal, a court in Italy canceled the August verdict to release the Nazi criminal Erich Priebke.

In Austria the radical right-wing freedom party, headed by Jorg Heidar, gained strength in the elections to the Vienna municipality and the European Parliament.

Neo-Nazi activity was discovered this month in some South American countries.

The subject of 'Nazi Gold' and Jewish property continued to make the headlines this month also. In addition to France there were reactions in Portugal and Paraguay.

October was characterized by a significant rise in anti-Semitic expressions and manifestations in the Arab press in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Saudi Arabia, and even in Qatar and Oman.

Attacks and Incidents

Hungary - An explosive charge went off in a garbage can beside the Duhany synagogue on Wesselenyi street in Budapest. The synagogue is located in a complex which includes the Jewish Museum, another large synagogue and the community's central building. No one was injured in the attack and no property was damaged. There was a pamphlet belonging to the radical right beside the can which exploded. An organization by the name of 'The Hungarian Will of the Gods' (IMA) assumed responsibility for the explosion and another similar one in August this year which took place nearby.

Britain - At the Hillel House in Birmingham two incidents occurred one day after the other. Their background is not clear: damage to a public telephone in the building and the theft of religious objects from the room of one of the occupants in the building. Money and other valuable objects were left unharmed.

In Mamlock House in Manchester a closed circuit television was smashed with a brick and a bag of garbage was thrown onto the roof of a porch after it was set on fire. In another community building in Manchester three windows were smashed during a robbery attempt. The background to these events is also unclear.

France - A young Jewish girl was attacked by two Muslim youths when she left the school she attended in Place De Bordeaux, Strasbourg. The girl was wearing a chain with the word 'Shadai' on it. The attackers tried to tear the chain from her neck and shouted "Sale Juive!" - 'Dirty Jew'. The incident took place two days after a large Muslim demonstration in the Place Kleber where the demonstrators shouted "Death to the Jews!"

Germany - The Porz Zundorf Jewish cemetery in Cologne was desecrated. It is an old unused cemetery located in a very isolated rural area. Ten gravestones were knocked over and swastikas and SS symbols were drawn on four more.

The Koln Mulheim Jewish cemetery in Cologne was also desecrated. Five gravestones were knocked over and fifteen others were sprayed with the Star of David and Nazi symbols. This cemetery is also located in a relatively isolated area and has not been used since 1940. There are 140 graves in the cemetery, the oldest of which are dated from the late 18th century.

Italy - The Jewish cemetery in Modena was desecrated. A number of gravestones were smashed. It is assessed that the desecration was committed by radical right-wing movements.

Sweden - An anonymous person announced the planting of a bomb near the Jewish community building in Malmo. On examination a bag with electrical wires sticking out was found. After the bag was exploded by the police it was discovered that it had not contained explosives.

Turkey - The Ankara synagogue was desecrated by unknown persons. They tried unsuccessfully to break through the doors of the synagogue. The synagogue yard was covered with stones that had been thrown at the synagogue. Signs of excrement were also left in the synagogue yard.

Argentina - Hundred of graves in the central Jewish cemetery of the Buenos Aires community in Tablada were desecrated. Gravestones were destroyed and swastikas were drawn with red paint. Defamatory slogans were written against the Jews, including denial of the Holocaust. The Jewish community reacted with a protest meeting at the cemetery. It is assessed that the desecration of the cemetery was carried out by a radical right-wing group called the 'Iron Guard' whose members are policemen and former police employees who received a considerable sum of money for this operation.

In the town of Villa-Clara in the Entre Rois province an ancient Jewish cemetery was desecrated. This town had been the center of Jewish settlement at the beginning of the century. It was an agricultural settlement set up by Baron Hirsch and was known as a Jewish colony. Very few Jews (mostly elderly) live there today.

Threats

Sweden - During a meeting of the 'Friends of the Shaarei Tzedek Hospital' in Goteborg, an anonymous person phoned the old people's home next to the church where the meeting was taking place. He identified himself as the spokesman of the 'International Intifada' and stated that there was a bomb in the church. He added that "The damn Zionist Svensson should be stopped". The church was evacuated and searched by the police but nothing was found. Slogans were found on the building such as 'Zionist pig' and 'Global Intifada'.

Denmark - A Jewish musical event, in which an Israeli ensemble and two Danish Jewish groups were participating, was canceled after an anonymous telephone threat was received on the planting of a bomb. The concert was to have taken place in the Moen island church in southern Denmark. On the same day a letter was received with the identical message.

The 'Young Jews' organization organized a party in a Copenhagen hotel. A day before the event an anonymous letter was received threatening that a bomb had been planted in the hotel. It was explained in the letter that the 'true religion would wipe out the pseudo-Jews and the Christians'. On the morning of the event the hotel received a phone call from a man with a foreign accent who repeated the threat. The party took place with police assistance despite the threat.

Bulgaria - An unidentified person called the police about a bomb in a Jewish school in Sofia. The police notified the school which was evacuated. A search was conducted but nothing was found.

Guatemala - An anonymous announcement on the planting of a bomb was received a few hours before the beginning of a musical event of a chamber trio from Israel organized by the Marroquin University in Guatemala. Public figures were invited to the event. It was stated in the announcement that 'we will blow up the university today because of the event taking place today'. The police searched the premises and provided security for the event.

Argentina - During the week of the desecration of the Jewish cemetery in Tablada near Buenos Aires and following it, anonymous announcements were received about an attack and planting of a bomb in the Jewish hospital 'Hospital Israelita' in Buenos Aires. Those who made the anonymous announcement identified themselves as the 'National Honor Commando'

('Comando Dignidad Nacional'). They stated that they had been responsible for the attack and desecration of the Jewish cemetery in Tablada. Nothing was found when the police searched the premises.

A threat of an attack was also made against the 'Memoria Activa' (the 'Active Memory') demonstration which is a regular Monday morning demonstration in front of the court house demanding that those responsible for the attack on the AMIA building be found and brought to trial.

Brazil - An anti-Semitic letter was received by a number of institutions, including the 'Zero Hour' newspaper (which is distributed in Porto Alegre) and a number of persons, including parliament and municipality leaders. It was signed by the 'White Power' ('Poder Bianco'). The letter contained threats of assassinations if the Zero Hora newspaper did not publish the five points of the MAS (Movimento Ariano Do Sul), a radical right-wing Aryan movement of the south.

Australia - Telephone threats were received in two Adelaide synagogues by a man who claimed he was a Nazi, threatening that "your people will be taken away". A letter threatening the planting of a bomb was received by the Sydney Jewish Communal Organization.

Propaganda

Britain - Anti-Semitic graffiti were found on a Jewish delicatessen in Manchester. On the shutters of the delicatessen was written, 'Jewish Bastards', 'Nazis', 'Tomorrow We're Sending Hitler to You', etc. A prank by youths was suspected.

A letter from the neo-Nazi 'National Socialist Alliance' (NSA) organization was received at the 'Board' offices in London. The letter was similar to those sent in the past. It said, "Jews, how do you feel about the fact that you are responsible for the raid on England of black robbers, rapists and murderers. You are also responsible for the death of Jesus and millions of your race. We will never forgive you for your actions. Signed, NSA".

France - A Muslim demonstration took place in Strasbourg with the permission of the authorities, protesting the opening of the Hasmonean tunnel in the Old City and on behalf of Islamic Holy Sites in Jerusalem. A large crowd of demonstrators participated in the demonstration during which the demonstrators shouted in chorus "Death to the Jews". Pamphlets were also seen with the names of Jewish politicians in the French government and the word 'traitors'.

Italy - An anonymous letter arrived at the offices of the Jewish community in Rome addressed to the Chief Rabbi of Rome containing printed anti-Semitic material. Such letters had been received in the past. It was assessed that the letters were sent by radical right-wing movements.

An anonymous letter arrived at the offices of the Jewish community in Venice meant for the community's rabbi. It contained printed anti-Semitic material against the Jews. The letter was apparently sent by neo-Nazi elements.

Slovakia - An anti-Semitic letter was sent by a radical right-wing body/organization to a Jewish community company in Kosice. To give the letter more authority and threat the sender used the stationery of the Kosice branch organization for the handicapped.

Turkey - An article was published in the Turkish Islamic newspaper 'Akit' attacking the Jewish weekly 'Salom' which had printed an article expressing dissatisfaction with the denial of the Holocaust, as expressed in Garaudy's statements. In the opinion of the newspaper, the claim that six million Jews were murdered by Hitler is a distortion of history.

Australia - Anti-Semitic graffiti were drawn on the fence of the home of a popular Jewish radio broadcaster who lives in north Adelaide. A State of David and swastika were drawn, among other things. The broadcaster suspects the 'National Action' to be responsible. The heads of the organization denied any connection to the action and attacked him for his accusation.

In two Adelaide synagogues anti-Semitic announcements were left on the telephone answering machine. An anti-Semitic announcement was also left on the answering machine of the Jewish community building in Melbourne. Anti-Semitic pamphlets were distributed near the Melbourne synagogue.

Anti-Semitic accusing letters and telephone calls arrived at a number of Jewish newspapers and organizations who had criticized the Holocaust denier David Irving.

Uruguay - The president of the Jewish community in Montevideo and other Jewish personalities in the community received an anonymous fax with no identifying marks. A Star of David with a skull inside it was drawn on the fax. An identical drawing was also written on a sign beside a Jewish-owned building, on the walls of the Integral Jewish school, on the Holocaust memorial plaque on the boardwalk near the shore of the Rio de la Plata river, and a Jewish synagogue in the Pocitos neighborhood. In the same area a slogan was written that defined Jews as homosexuals and beside it a swastika.

South Africa - In a demonstration in Capetown against the development of the Oudekrall district (an area where many Muslim graves are found) about 5,000 demonstrators participated, including environmentalists (the 'Greens') and representatives of the religious Muslim population, including armed representatives of the radical organization 'People Against Gangsterism and Drugs' (PAGAD). At the demonstration anti-Semitic slogans were waved such as - 'One brick, one Jew', 'One (Muslim) grave, one synagogue', as well as swastikas and Stars of David with the word 'money' printed on them.

An anti-Semitic pamphlet was disseminated among the Muslim community in South Africa calling for a fight against the Jews and Zionists in Israel and South Africa.

Another pamphlet was disseminated by the fundamentalist Muslims calling for Mandela not to travel to Israel and comparing Zionism with the apartheid regime. Israel and Zionism appeared in the pamphlet as 'Zionazi Israel'.

Struggle

Canada - The Canadian authorities intend to limit the activity of the neo-Nazi Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel. The Committee for Human Rights in Canada held a meeting on the accusing material Zundel disseminates. The Jewish community intends to present evidence proving that Zundel is a security risk for Canada, its final goal being his expulsion from Canada.

Argentina - The Jewish community in Buenos Aires held a demonstration ceremony against increasing attacks on Jewish cemeteries and the publication of anti-Jewish propaganda material in Argentina. The ceremony took place in the central cemetery in Tablada where about I 00 gravestones were desecrated near Buenos Aires in October.

Politics and Anti-Semitism

Italy - Following an appeal, the Supreme Court in Italy canceled the August verdict of the court to release the Nazi war criminal Erich Priebke. Priebke will stand trial again before new judges.

Russia - The Russian government transferred the K.G.B.'s archives to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. The archives, which comprise about 15,000 pages, contain material on crimes perpetrated by the Nazis against the Jews after Hitler's occupation of the Soviet Union, during which about 1.5 million Jews were murdered on Soviet territory. Material on trials held against Nazis and Soviet collaborators between the years 1946-1949 was also sent.

Ukraine - Following international pressure from international Jewish organizations and government bodies from a number of countries, Ukrainian authorities endeavored to find a solution to the problem of the Jewish cemetery in Lvov which was destroyed by the Germans and on which a market is presently situated. Two committees were established, at the municipal and national level to examine the situation. Their recommendation is to preserve the current situation and search for a way of removing the market, or part of it, and commemorating the memory of those buried in the place evacuated.

Argentina - The Buenos Aires weekly 'Noticias' printed an interview with Carlos Suares Mason, one of the generals responsible for the detention camps and the disappearance of prisoners during the period of the dictatorship, who was accused of torture and murders. His statements included anti-Semitic remarks such as: "We should have legalized torture, like Israel did. Israel beats (people) to death every day, a thing that Hitler and we did not dare do". To the reporter's question as to whether he was an anti-Semite, he answered, "I'm not an anti-Semite. I know the Jews very well. You have to watch out for them. I have a few Jewish friends".

Brazil - The governor of Brasilia, Cristovam Buarque, gave a reception for the mayor of Tehran to which Brasilia's leaders were invited. Entry was forbidden to women and Jews and alcoholic beverages were not allowed.

Paraguay - Symbols and slogans from the Nazi archive have been increasingly used for confrontation and deepening rivalries, politically and socially. In the Engineering Faculty of the national university pamphlets were disseminated bearing the portrait of the rector drawn like Hitler with words befitting the drawings The drawings do not have any direct anti-Semitic connotations but the frequent use of them gives gradual legitimacy to the dissemination of Nazi material.

Ecuador - In an article entitled 'neo-Nazis Criollos', the popular monthly 'Vistazo' (View) exposes the activity of the neo-Nazi organization centered in Quito which operates under the guise of a national development foundation called 'Fundacion Ecuatoriana de Desarrollo'. In the picture accompanying the article the station manager is seen dressed in a black uniform with a swastika on his shoulder and a large picture of Hitler in the background. In another picture, some organization activists appear against the background of a swastika, holding anti-Semitic books.

Morocco - During Garaudy's visit to Morocco, he was prevented from speaking in formal frameworks and was not permitted to be hosted in academic or government-run institutions. Garaudy therefore conducted meetings in private frameworks and associations. The preface to the Arab version of Garaudy's book was written by Dr. Mehdi Menjra, a renowned Moroccan intellectual who writes regular columns in the Arab Moroccan press which has recently become a prominent supporter of Islamic streams.

Miscellaneous

Austria - Due to the fear of a wave of letter bombs in Austria (which have continued intermittently since December, 1993), the Austrian Ministry of Interior warned the public of the possible use of another wave of letter bombs in anticipation of local and European Parliament elections.

The radical right-wing freedom party, the FPO, led by Jorg Heidar, gained political power in the elections to the city of Vienna and the European Parliament. In the European Parliament elections, the party won about 28 percent, in contrast to 22 percent in the Austrian Parliament elections in 1995. In the Vienna municipal elections the party won about 28 percent, in contrast to about 23 percent in the previous elections.

The subject of 'Nazi Gold' and Jewish property continued to make headlines this month also. Discoveries of currency and treasures are publicized throughout the world. The press in France reported Jewish property from the years 1940-1944 which was confiscated by the Paris leadership, especially from the Marais quarter. The property was evaluated at billions of francs. There were also reports in Portugal on the role of the Central Portuguese Bank in the 'Nazi Gold' affair, given the dramatic increase in Portuguese gold reserves during the years 1931-1944. The gold reserve in the Central Bank in Paraguay has also received attention. A report states that the Central Bank of Paraguay received a number of gold shipments starting in 1956. It was also published that witnesses claimed that at least part of the gold was purchased with money from Jews collected during World War II.

Hungary - A public meeting took place outside the parliament buildings in Budapest at the end of the month in which about 20,000 right-wing supporters participated to mark the 40th anniversary of the Hungarian Uprising against the Communist regime in 1956. The meeting was organized by the radical right-wing party 'The Hungarian Justice and Life Party'