Report of Anti-Semitic Incidents - February 1999

General

The arrest of the PKK leader Ocalan led to violent popular protest, especially in Europe. The incident in which four demonstrators were killed in the Israeli consulate in Berlin and the claim that Israeli elements were involved in extraditing Ocalan generated tension and a fear of harassment and attack against Jewish institutions throughout the world. So far only a few incidents against Jewish installations have been recorded.

France - A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the entrance to the Jewish Hamam Café in the Jewish Rue Des Rosiers quarter in Paris. A fire broke out which caused only property damage but no casualties. The Jewish Radio J radio station which operates in Paris is located in the same building.

Skinheads entered the Tournefeuil synagogue in Toulouse, damaged the contents and drew swastikas and abusive slogans on the walls.

Belgium - A Molotov cocktail was thrown into the yard of the Sephardi Pavillon synagogue in the Schaerbeek neighbourhood in Brussels. The synagogue was empty at the time. No damage was caused.

The Holocaust memorial site in Brussels was desecrated with anti-Semitic slogans and swastikas.

Britain - A woman entered a Jewish shop in Salford, Manchester, pursuing some Jewish girls and shouting anti-Semitic remarks at them. The woman continued the anti-Semitic cursing after she was removed from the shop. She later passed the Central North Manchester Synagogue and threatened two other girls.

Russia - Unknown persons broke into the office of the Hasdei Yerushalayim charity organization in Saratov. The place was damaged and electrical equipment was stolen.

Australia - A Molotov cocktail was thrown into the yard of a synagogue in Melbourne. The fire was extinguished and no damage was caused.

Two boys entered the premises of the Yeshivah Gedolah rabbinical seminary in Sydney and harassed some Yeshivah students. When they were asked to leave they refused and violently attacked the rabbi of the seminar. The rabbi suffered multiple injuries and concussion and had to be hospitalized. The attackers left the place but returned to continue harassing the Yeshivah students. The police arrested the attackers and they will be put on trial.

The candelabra on the main synagogue in Perth in Western Australia was damaged on the night between Friday and the Sabbath. The candelabra stands about two meters above the synagogue and has covers for the lamps. All the covers, except one, were stolen and some of the lamps were smashed.

Eggs were thrown at the front door of the rabbis house in the Gold Coast.

Eggs were thrown from a passing car at a Jewish boy who was on his way to a synagogue in Sydney.

A swastika was drawn on a synagogue wall in Melbourne.

Australia - A hate letter was left between the doors of the Jewish community building in Perth. The note threatened that the writer would return to the synagogues of Satan. The intention was unclear.

Brazil - A threatening phonecall, including anti-Semitic jokes, was received at the home of the president of the Centro Israelita Brasileiro in Rio de Janeiro.

Argentina - A threat of an imminent attack against one of the Jewish organizations was received through an organization which had penetrated the Jewish community.

Britain - An anti-Semitic letter was received at the Radlett and Bushey Reform synagogue in London.

A senior official of the Jewish community received an anti-Semitic letter containing the addresses of anti-Semitic sites on the Internet.

A Jew from London received an anti-Semitic letter after he wrote a letter to the Times editor. The letter said that it was a pity that the British had fought in World War II for the Jews and expressed the hope that the younger generation would correct the mistake and heal the white race. The letter ended with the sentence, We will still fight the Jews, 88. (88 signifies the initials of Heil Hitler).

An anti-Semitic letter was received in the editorial offices of the JC newspaper. The writer claimed his father and fathers friends had killed thousands of Jews throughout Europe and called it the work of God. The letter was replete with anti-Semitic remarks.

The word Jew was scratched on a Jewish familys car in London in one of the Hendon neighbourhood parking lots.

France - The JNF offices in Paris received letters containing anti-Semitic leaflets.

During a Kurdish demonstration opposite the Great Synagogue in Bordeaux cries of Death to the Jews and Death to Israel were heard. An additional demonstration was held near the Jewish community building in Toulouse.

Belgium - In the Brussels neighbourhood of Anderlecht, unknown persons wrote abusive slogans, a swastika and anti-Semitic Neo-Nazi slogans on the walls of the memorial to Jewish victims who had been sent to the death camps.

Italy - At a wayside inn in the Italian Alps bottles of wine are being sold with pictures of Hitler and the Italian dictator Mussolini on them. The names of the wines are Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuehrer (one nation, one Reich, one leader) - the official slogan of the Third Reich, Zeig Heil - the Nazi greeting and other slogans and names from the Nazi period in Germany.

Brazil - During the carnival in San Paolo 100 dancers from the Vai-Vai samba school appeared in costumes bearing swastikas. The subject of the school dancers performance was the Prophesies of Nostradamus and their costumes were meant to signify that Hitler was one of the fulfillments of Nostradamus prophesies.

Anonymous anti-Semitic phonecalls were received in the home of a Jewish historian in Rio de Janeiro.

Malaysia - Malaysian, Prime Minister, Dr. Mahatir, strongly criticized the Jews at the economic conference in Davos, Switzerland in early February 1999. He used arguments reminiscent of the 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion' and blamed the Jewish connection for Asias economic problems. This was not the first time that Mahatir had expressed such opinions towards the Jews and their influence on the worlds economy.

Australia - The Adelaide Institute continues to publish anti-Semitic and Holocaust denial articles and even sent such material to a Jewish organization in Melbourne.

Accusing mail and anti-Semitic material were sent to an organization in Sydney and referred to the Synagogue of the Devil. An anti-Semitic announcement was recorded at the Internet site of a Jewish organization in Sydney and a drawing of a swastika was added to the guest book of the Jewish Museum in Sydney.

The Nexus magazine published a section from the book The Money Makers: How International Bankers Gained Control which describes the power of the Rothschilds in the past and blames them and three other Jewish families for causing wars and revolutions.

A number of abusive letters in the same tone - Death to the Jews, human vermin - were sent on various occasions during the month to Jewish private homes, businesses and organizations.

An announcement signed by Adolf Hitler was sent to a Jewish organization by electronic mail 13 times this month. Pamphlets with a swastika and the word soap were left on the steps of a synagogue in Sydney.

Anti-Semitic messages continue to flow into new Internet sites. Among other things, they justify Hitlers actions, define Judaism as a blood-sucking and obsolete religion and denounce Israel and the Zionists.

In a Sydney book shop new editions are being sold of Mein Kampf, 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion' , Our Nordic Race by Kelly Hoskins and Holocaust denial material.

The Exposure newspaper continues to publish Holocaust denial material and advertisements for the sale of the 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion'. The Strategy newspaper also publicizes anti-Semitic books.

Joe Chiappalones news magazine complains about there being too many Zionists (Jews) in Australia which, according to him, is more like Tel Aviv today. He envisages Australia having the same fate as Canada - complete surrender to Zionism. He claims that the evil of the Zionist Jews will lead to their destruction.

In the Diplomatic Panorama and the Antara News, there appeared, among other things, Holocaust denial articles and expressions like Talmudic bankers from Wall Street and the Jewish lobby which promotes the Holocaust.

U.S. - In Portland, Oregon, a teacher in the Franklin high school found two anti-Semitic abusive letters in her cubbyhole which also included a threat on her life.

A third abusive note with a swastika had been placed two weeks before on the car of a school staff member.

U.N. - The State Department published findings that U.N.-run schools which are in charge of Palestinian refugees in the Middle East use anti-Semitic reference books. The books are distributed by the governments of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the PA.

Russia - At the convention of the DPA organization (the movement supporting the army) which was held in Rostov, Makashov stated that the movement must be anti-Semitic since this is in keeping with the interests of the entire (Russian) people. Makashov proposed changing the name of the movement to the Movement Against Jews.

At the founding convention of the new Imperialist Party of Russia, derogative anti-Semitic and racist remarks were heard. Skinheads who participated in the convention wore black uniforms like the Nazi parties.

Russia - Russias Minister of Justice, Pavel Krasheninnikov, called for increasing efforts in the struggle against political radicalism after radical nationalists wearing Nazi insignia marched through the streets of Moscow. The minister called for expanding the authority of the presidential committee which was set up to fight the radicals in order to apply the two-year plan to stop political and religious fanaticism. The Ministry of Justice also sent a warning to the Neo-Nazi RNE party to stop its activity. The Moscow municipality already passed a law prohibiting the use of the movements symbols which resemble a swastika .

Canada - Valdimir Katriuk, a 77-year old butcher from Montreal and former member of the Ukrainian companies which collaborated with the S.S. and which were responsible for the deaths of thousands of Jews, will apparently be expelled from Canada after a federal court decision that he received Canadian citizenship under false pretenses. His deportation is currently being made conditional on the Cabinets approving the revoking of his citizenship.

The Human Rights Tribunal in Vancouver fined a journalist 2,000 dollars for a series of articles which encourage anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. One of the members of the tribunal stated that the articles supported the most radical expressions of anti-Semitism. The journalist denounced the decision claiming that it was against freedom of speech and said he would continue writing the same material.

U.S. - The American Jewish Congress called on the national Republican committee to remove the racist David Duke from the party for his radical views. Duke represents New Orleans in the race for a seat in Congress.

Britain - For the first time in Britain a full trial of a Nazi war criminal has been opened, including sending the jury to visit the site where the crime was committed (Belarus). Anthony Sawoniuk, a British pensioner who is of Polish extraction and who served as a police officer in 1942, is accused of murdering four Jews in Belarus and assisting the Nazis in the destruction of Jews.

Russia - The very first Center for Jewish Studies was dedicated at the Moscow State University. The new Center for Jewish Studies is the product of cooperation between the Institute of Jewish Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Institute of Asian and African countries at the Moscow State University and the Jewish University of Moscow. The project is being financed with the aid of funds from the Russian Jewish Congress, the Israel government, an American benefactor and other universities in Israel.

Latvia - On 14 February, 1999, a few dozen members of the Latvian branch of the Russian anti-Semitic Neo-Nazi organization Ruskoye Natsionalnoye Edinstvo (The Russian National Unity) which was founded by Barkashov, held a parade in the streets of Liepaja (in south west Latvia). This is a Neo-Nazi racist and anti-Semitic organization whose symbol is an inverted swastika and which greets its members with the Nazi salute.

The leader of the Freedom and Homeland party (TB), Marius Brinblatts, published an official statement that his party is disassociating itself and renouncing the anti-Semitic publication The Terrible Year (Baigais Gads). The statement confirms that the publication (which first appeared in 1942) has indeed been republished by a TB member but he did so as a private individual and the book does not represent the partys position.

Ukraine - Three Jewish groups in Ukraine left the umbrella organization The General Ukrainian Jewish Congress that represents the Ukrainian Jewish community which numbers some half a million persons. The groups declared that they would set up a new association - The Jewish Confederation of Ukraine as the umbrella organization did not succeed in meeting the needs of many Jews who require financial assistance.

Hungary - A few hundred Neo-Nazis, most of them German, took part in a memorial service in Budapest in memory of German soldiers who fell in Hungary in World War II. The opposition expressed strong criticism in Parliament against the permit granted for such a demonstration and the fact that German radicals were not prevented from entering, even though it was known beforehand that they were coming. The opposition presented a draft amendment which would enable the prevention of such demonstrations. A protest rally was organized on the initiative of members of parliament from the opposition parties (the Social Party and Free Democratic Party). The rally took place next to the memorial for the Holocaust victims on the banks of the Danube in which some 8000 persons participated. These included members of parliament of all factions, including the president of the Socialist Party Laszlo Kovacs, heads of the Jewish community of Hungary, writers, intellectuals and many young people.

Morocco - The Even Danan synagogue in the Mellah (the former Jewish quarter) in the old city of Fez was renovated and dedicated in a well-attended ceremony under the patronage of the Crown Prince. Jews from various parts of the world participated, as well as government officials, army personnel and local police. The event was accompanied by a seminar on the Cultural Heritage of Moroccan Jewry. Since Jews do not live in that area today, the synagogue will be used as a tourist site and not for worship.

Israel/Britain - Israel announced that the British citizen Frank Foley who saved thousands of Jews during World War II, would be declared a Righteous Gentile. During the thirties Foley headed the branch of the British Intelligence organization MI-6. He was in charge of issuing entry permits for the U.K. and broke his countrys immigration laws in order to issue visas to Jews. Although he did not have diplomatic immunity, he also hid Jews in his home and helped them to acquire forged passports. Foley died in 1958.

Switzerland - In a research project conducted by the Jewish weekly Israelische Wochenblatt it was published that Josef Mengele, the Angel of Death of the Auschwitz death camp returned many times after the war to Europe and spent his holidays in the Swiss Alps, apparently with the knowledge of the local police. The newspaper presented documents which trace the flight of the Nazi criminal to South America, under the protection of the International Red Cross, and the frequent trips he took to Switzerland after the war, among others, to visit his wife and son who had remained in Europe. The spokesman of the Ministry of Justice in Bern told the Le Monde newspaper that this new information presents a shocking and unbelievable story that the Swiss government intends to completely investigate. The International Red Cross spokesman has already responded to the findings, stating that at the time the organization had the task of assisting people in distress as best it could. It issued 70,000 passports and could not always efficiently check the identification of the applicants. They were sorry for the pain caused the Holocaust survivors and apologize to them. It is still unclear whether the Ministry of Justice in Bern will permit the opening of the archives from that period, although it is clear that the documents which the newspaper published were leaked from them. The Association of Jews in Switzerland demands that a commission of inquiry be established on the subject.

Germany - On Sunday, 14 February, 1999, an impressive ceremony was held at the Berlin Jewish ceremony on the occasion of the renewal of the gravestone over the grave of Heinz Galinski. Galinski had been a distinguished citizen of Berlin. He founded the Jewish community after World War II and was its chairman until 1992. The grave was desecrated on 19 December, 1998 and the heavy granite stone covering the grave was shattered.

Poland/Germany - Germanys Defence Minister, Rudolf Scharping, and 160 German soldiers honored the victims of the Holocaust at the Auschwitz concentration camp site in southern Poland. Scharping, accompanied by the Polish Minister of National Defence, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, laid a wreath at the foot of the Wall of Death, the camps execution site, and beside the memorial for the victims of Fascism in the nearby Birkenau death camp. This was the first time since the fall of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II that German soldiers visited Auschwitz-Birkenau.

France - There is great embarrassment in government circles in France following the discovery of art treasures which are today hanging in the Elysée Palace, the home of President Jacques Chirac and at the Matignon Hotel, the official residence of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, were stolen from their Jewish owners by the Nazis. A decision has not yet been reached in France on how to deal with the matter.

Austria - A committee of experts on restoring art objects decided to return a collection of pictures and art objects of the Rotschild family to their owners. These are 250 pictures and works of art which had been confiscated for the second time, after the Holocaust, and most of them kept in the Kunsthistorischen Museum, the art history museum of Vienna. The committee of experts is continuing its work and examining the return of many works of art to their rightful owners.

Germany - The historian of the largest bank in Germany, the Deutsche Bank, stated that the bank loaned funds to companies involved in constructing the Auschwitz concentration camp in World War II. The bank is also contending with compensation suits by Holocaust survivors in the U.S. The bank announced in the past that it was not participating in the settlement and owes some billion and a half dollars for gold stolen from Jews which it bought in World War II.

Twelve German companies who had employed slave labourers during the Nazi period jointly declared the establishment of two compensation funds. The initiative of the companies is:

The main purpose of the fund is to extend immediate help to the victims of Nazism involved, without bureaucracy due to the advanced age of those involved. The participating companies are Allianz, BASF, Bayer, BMW, Daimler-Chrysler, Deutsche Bank, Degussa-Huels, Dresdner Bank, Siemens, Friedrich Krupp Hoesch-Krupp, Hoechst and Volkswagen.

Norway - The Legal Committee for Compensation to the Jewish Community in Norway presented a draft resolution for parliamentary ratification. According to the resolution, a sum would be allocated for collective compensation to be divided among Jewish communities in Norway to support thier future and Jewish culture, to support communities outside Norway and to establish a center for research of the Holocaust and subjects pertaining to minorities. A sum will also be set aside for personal compensation. If the victims have already died, their direct descendants will be entitled to receive compensation. If the entire sum is not used for personal compensation, the money will be transferred to collective compensation.

Israel/Switzerland - The Yad Vashem institute sent the first computerized list of more than one million names of Holocaust victims to the committee for examining dormant bank accounts in Swiss banks. The committee will in the near future cross-reference the list of victims with the list of names of holders of accounts in the Swiss banks which it has, in order to locate accounts that belonged to Holocaust victims and to compensate their heirs.