More Portuguese Reaction to the Public Prayer in Lisbon

Hat tip Totalitarismo Universalista. Translation by Fousesquawk.

Yesterday, we cross-posted a story on the recent takeover by praying Muslims of a square in Lisbon named in honor of a Crusader martyr, Martim Moniz. It included a brief translation from a Portuguese blog protesting the prayer.

Today, we are translating another article from a different Portuguese blog, Totalitarismo Universalista. The writer pulls no punches. I have chosen to delete one word from the translation.

https://totalitarismouniversalista.blogspot.com/2021/05/sobre-celebracao-do-fim-do-ramadao-no.html

On the celebration of the end of Ramadan on Martim Moniz (Sq) 2021

Few things are more symptomatic of the state in which Portugal finds itself than to look at Martim Moniz Square in Lisbon during Ramadan. This photo was taken May 12.

I would guess that the majority of readers of this blog must know that Martim Moniz is a martyr of the Portuguese Reconquest

"According to legend, it was a noble knight who fought with heroism during the siege of Lisbon, on the side of Christian forces under the command of King D. Afonso Henriques (1112-1185). On seeing the opening of a door of the Moorish castle, he attacked it by himself, sacrificing his life by crossing his own body in the opening as a way of preventing its closure by the defenders. This heroic gesture allowed the gaining of time necessary for the arrival of his fellow-fighters, who thus, succeeded in penetrating the castle. In his honor, this entry became known as "The door of Martim Moniz". With this gesture, he became a glorious Christian knight."

Now, it is so insulting that the Muslims fill precisely this square, which has the name of this martyr, to celebrate the end of their sacred month, Ramadan. Why? Because this square represents the greatest exponent of the Portuguese sacrifice against the followers of the  (deleted) "prophet". To fill it with Muslims is a deliberate affront to the Portuguese, and to spit on our history and defecate on the blood shed by our ancestors, not to mention being sadly symptomatic that a majority of our compatriots don't seem to consider this situation important.

To begin with, nobody should pray on the street, or even in the pedestrian zones of a square. The street is public, it belongs to all Portuguese, so no religious group should be able to take it over.  A procession that courses along the streets is one thing, another thing is for a group of persons who belong to a religious group to deliberately and consciously block a street/square for long periods of time, in the clear attempt to impose or intimidate non-believers. 

These types shouldn't even be in Portugal, but once they are, they should opt for Avenida Alvara Cinhal, or for Avenida Mario Soares, or for a street/square of some other stateless scoundrel of that genre. In no circumstance should Muslims be able to take over Martim Moniz Square for religious purposes. To accept their presence on that space is not to be tolerated, much less virtuous....and simply to be defeated.

Jew Haters in Los Angeles

Hat tip LA Jewish Journal. Viewer warning.

This past week or so, we have been posting some pretty ugly images out of Europe showing pro-Palestinians screaming anti-Jewish obscenities at Jews-not just Israel-but Jews in general.

On the evening of May 18, it came back to Los Angeles. A group of pro-Palestinian thugs with their ubiquitous Palestinian flag and keffiyehs came riding through a commercial dining area of La Cienega (a heavily Jewish area) screaming anti-Jewish obscenities. They then got out of their cars and attacked diners on the sidewalk who identified themselves as Jewish.

The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles has several videos 

 https://jewishjournal.com/news/336775/pro-palestinian-group-attacks-la-jewish-men/

These punks hopefully will be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Unfortunately, LA now has a radical DA named George Gascon, who doesn't want to prosecute anyone, so we will have to follow this case carefully.

And for those of you who are sitting on the fence on this war, think about which side employs these tactics. It is Israel that is on the right side. They did not start this war.  Neither American Jews nor European Jews are attacking Arabs or Muslims on the streets. They are not attacking mosques.

Unfortunately, what we are dealing with here is a bunch of uncivilized savages.

Netherlands: Dutch Politicians React to Anti-Israel Demonstrations

 Hat tip Ongehoord Nederland, Vlad Tepes and Gates of Vienna. Translation by Fousesquawk.

In the wake of ugly anti-Israel/anti-Jewish demonstrations in Dutch cities this week, the Dutch site, Ongehoord Nederland, interviewed several Dutch politicians for their reactions to the anti-Jewish chants. The 4 politicians are in order: Tunahan Kuzu of the Islamic/Turkish-oriented party, Denk, Geert Wilders of the Party for Freedom (PVV), Jasper van Dijk of the Socialist Partry (SP), and Derk Jan Eppink of JA 21. 

Portugal: Muslim Prayers on a Square Named After a Crusader

Hat tip Perspectivas (Pt) and RAIR Foundation.Translation by Fousesquawk.

Martim Moniz Square, Lisbon

Muslims in Lisbon, Portugal celebrated the end of Ramadan this past week by holding an outdoor gathering. The place they chose to do it was Martim Moniz Square named after a famous Christian Crusader who helped overthrow Muslim overlords in Lisbon in 1147. The RAIR Foundation has the story on this and the symbolism behind this choice of location.

Here is a shorter posting from a Portuguese blog, Perspectivas. It is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://espectivas.wordpress.com/2021/05/19/a-pergunta-do-polgrafo-acreditas-no-que-os-teus-olhos-mentirosos-vem-ou-naquilo-que-eu-te-digo/

The question from "Poligrafo": "Do you believe what your lying eyes see, or what I tell you?!"

The image below comes from Ademastor: It shows a comparison between what happened on 13 May, in the sanctuary of Fatima, and on the field of Martim Moniz, in Lisbon.

So we see, we verify on the spot; but according to "Poligrafo", our eyes are liars.

Now, Dear Reader, imagine that the Catholic Church acquired the habit of systematically occupying, for example, Rossio Square (in Lisbon) for its weekly religious celebrations: We would have the left screaming, and asking the government to send in the shock troops "against the reactionaries",  But when it concerns the partners of the alliance between Marx and Mohammad, not even "Poligrafo" is inhibited from coming out in their defense.

Allahu Akbar !

Note: The sentence, "Do you believe what your lying eyes seem or what I tell you?" is from Groucho Marx; Portuguese politics transformed it into an anecdote.

Swedish Editorial on Anti-Semitism

Hat tip Expressen (Sweden). Translation by Fousesquawk.

Today's online edition of Swedish newspaper, Expressen, is running a staff editorial decrying the explosion of anti-Semitism both in Sweden and the rest of Europe in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

 https://www.expressen.se/ledare/judehatet-kommer-som-ett-brev-pa-posten/

Jew-hatred comes as a letter in the mail

May 218, 2021 

Caption beneath photo: Anti-Semitism always flares up when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict intensifies.

Jew-hatred again shows its ugly mug in the tracks of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There must be zero tolerance for this abomination.

They are scenes that many never thought they would have to see in Germany again given the country's history. In cities like Bonn, Dusseldorf, Muenster, and Gelsenkirchen last week, mobs of young men gathered outside synagogues and burned Israeli flags, threw rocks, and chanted, "shit-Jews".

In Dusseldorf, a fire was set on top of a monument to a synagogue that was burned down during "Kristallnacht" in 1938. Similar incidents have taken place in other locations in our vicinity. In Essex in Great Britain, a rabbi was beaten recently outside his synagogue.

Also in Sweden, anti-Semitism has come to the surface in the face of fighting between Israel and Hamas. Jewish congregations in Stockholm and Gothenburg testify to growing hate against their members. Children and youths gave been verbally attacked in the schools. On social media, they have  been met with hateful comments, such as, "your parents would have been gassed."

Journalist Negar Josephi has, in the past few days, reported on how Jew-hatred flows freely in the hyped audio sound chat room, Clubhouse. That ended with her being herself threatened with death.

It is shocking testimony, but, unfortunately, not surprising. Waves of Jew-hatred come like a letter in the mail every time the Israeli-Palestinian conflict flares up again. Depending on what happens in the Middle East, Jews in Sweden must consider things like whether to wear the Star of David or not, whether they dare go to the synagogue or not, and so on.

It is more than unacceptable. It is disgusting.

All are free to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians' hardships- and also to give a thought to the misery that affects many in daily life under the rule of Hamas and Fatah. But there is absolutely no reason to allow this commitment to turn into hate against Jews in Sweden.

It is obvious that Sweden has failed on this point, even if we are far from alone in this. A new report from Malmö, shows how the conflict constantly spills over to daily life in school. Schools are perceived as unsafe and marked by anti-Semitic language, often normalized as a rash of jokes.

Stockholm has just decided to do a similar survey of anti-Semitism in the schools of the capital city. It is a first-rate initiative.

Schools must be a place characterized by zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. To succeed in that, teachers and school administrators must be given the tools they need in the form of knowledge and clear procedures when they encounter Jew-hatred connected to the Middle East conflict.

Nor can Sweden compromise on security for Jewish institutions. Over the years, the issue has been taken more seriously in the large cities, but the vulnerability is still great in smaller cities like Umeå, Lund, och Norrköping. 

That Jews have to feel worry and fear in today's Sweden is nothing else than a great failure.

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Fousesquawk comment: While I applaud the editors of Expressen for this piece, I have to note once again that they fail to say who the perpetrators of this new anti-Semitism are in Europe. You pretty much have to read between the lines to realize that these acts are being carried out mostly by Middle East immigrants, and yes-predominantly Muslims.

This is not to deny that Sweden has traditionally favored the Palestinian side. So it reasonably follows that some Swedes are, in fact, also anti-Semitic. After all, anti-Semitism has infected every society with the possible exception of head-hunters in Borneo. The former mayor of Malmö, Ilmar Reepalu, comes to mind. He literally did not care that his city's Jews were being harassed by Muslim migrants because he perceived them to be pro-Israel. (Reepalu was born in Estonia, if that is a factor.)

Having said that, I don't believe that Swedes, in general, are intolerant people. I have visited the country three times and have taken the time and effort to learn Swedish. The country has a reputation for being tolerant, but it is no virtue to tolerate intolerance by others in the name of tolerance itself.

Nor do I want to give the impression that all Muslims and Arabs living in Sweden are anti-Semites. I certainly don't want to see innocent Muslims in Sweden or anywhere else in the West treated in the manner that Jews are being treated today. For example, mosques should not be the site for pro-Israel protests-as synagogues are being targeted for anti-Israel protests. To date, I am unaware of any mosque being targeted for a pro-Israel demonstration. 

But if we are going to truly fight this "imported anti-Semitism" that we see growing in the West, we must name the perps-all of them, no matter who they are. If they are white Europeans or white nationalist Americans or Canadians, we must name them. If they are Muslims or some other minority, we must also name them. We must also speak openly about who accounts for the most anti-Semitism in our societies, and each community must work to eliminate it.

We should not have to read between the lines to figure out who the perpetrators are and from where the threat is coming.

Palestinian Supporters Show Their True Colors (Jew Hatred)

This article first appeared in New English Review.

 With the Israeli-Palestinian conflict raging in the Middle East, we have witnessed truly ugly scenes both in Europe and the US in the form of pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel rallies, protests, and riots.

In London, the boys with the Palestinian flags and keffiyehs with the black and white doodads fight police outside the Israeli embassy while their cohorts drive through a Jewish area with a loudspeaker screaming, "F--- the Jews, F--- their mothers, rape their daughters".

In Gelsenkirchen, Germany the rabble gather in front of a synagogue and scream, "Sh-- Jews".

In Paris, authorities refused to authorize a rally on Saturday due to fears of violence. They were proved right. Paris police had to spend their Saturday battling the mobs on the streets of what was once considered the "most beautiful city in the world".

Meanwhile, their police counterparts in Stockholm, Utrecht, Berlin, Milan, and many other cities in Europe fought to control the raging mobs with their Palestinian flags, and the ever-presence shout of, "Allahu akbar!". 

In going through the European media reports, it appears that just maybe, finally,  the Europeans are realizing the ugly fact: Their government leaders (in Western Europe, not Eastern Europe) have opened the floodgates to millions of people (overwhelmingly young, unaccompanied men) who not only do not respect Western values, and have made the crime and welfare statistics explode, but who have brought with them a centuries-old hatred of Jews. They are even starting to coin a new term for it: "Imported anti-Semitism".

Of course, most of the European media is slanted toward the Palestinian narrative and wrings its hands over the casualties in Gaza while hardly mentioning the rocket attacks launched by Hamas from Gaza. It is encouraging that the German government has come out and defended  Israel's right to defend itself. Too bad, however, that it was Angela Merkel who started the invasion of her country and Western Europe back in 2015 in response to the Syrian civil war. And they wonder why, all of a sudden, they are having a problem with anti-Semitism in their lands.

In Europe, the rampaging Muslims don't even try to pretend that it is all about Zionism and the "oppression" of the Palestinians. They don't shout, "F--- the Zionists". It is "F--- the Jews". When you take your protest to a synagogue, that tells me this is not about oppression or land. This is about race. If by some miracle, every Jew in Israel converted to Islam tomorrow, the entire conflict would probably disappear.

But we are not free of this Jew-hatred in our country. It had been relatively dormant, but now it has been awakened, first on our university campuses, thanks to groups like the brown shirt Students for Justice in Palestine and their sister chapters of the Muslim Student Association. Now it is out in the community.  This week, in Florida, a (peaceful) pro-Israel protest witnessed a van painted with slogans like, "Hitler was right", a swastika, and a Palestinian flag drive past them. In fairness, I should add that it is believed this was a group of white supremacists.

In New York City, Jews are now an open target especially since the renewed fighting in the Middle East. And the perpetrators are not white supremacists.

And the difference in the tone of rallies on the opposing sides is astounding. I attended a pro-Israel rally this past week in Irvine. There were some 200-300 people waving Israeli flags, but there was no violence. A few pro-Palestinian youths showed up, but nobody laid a finger on them. Yes, there have been pitched battles between Jews and Arabs in a couple of Israeli cities. Prime Minister Netanyahu has told the Israeli people there is no excuse for attacking Arabs on the street. Hamas, meanwhile, exhorts Arabs in Israel to attack Jews.

There was also quite a difference in tone in Italy. While former Interior Minister and Lega party leader, Matteo Salvini was speaking to an outdoor crowd of Jews and Israel supporters, making a brief but eloquent speech about how he stood with Israel and the Jewish people, there was no screaming, no rowdiness. The crowd listened quietly and applauded. Meanwhile, police in Milan were dealing with a screaming mob of Palestinian supporters in front of the famed Duomo cathedral.

How many cities in Europe or North America have we seen pro-Israeli crowds get violent or fight police? 

It is high time that people in the West wake up and recognize who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. It should be obvious since it is right in front of our eyes in our own countries, in our own cities, on our own university campuses.

May God protect Israel and the Jewish people.

Spain: Thousands of Illegal Migrants Arrive from Morocco

 Hat tip Vlad Tepes and Gates of Vienna. Translation by Fousesquawk.

Spain is dealing with yet another wave of illegal migrant crossings from Morocco. In the past 24 hours, some 5,000 migrants, identified as Moroccans, arrived at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, literally by swimming through a breakwater. Spanish police claim that their Moroccan counterparts stood by and did nothing to stop it.

This has led to a diplomatic crisis between Spain and Morocco. The latter country is already upset that Spain has allowed a suspected war criminal into the country for medical treatment. There is speculation that Morocco allowed the crossing to occur to exert pressure on Spain.

The below video from RTVE Noticias is translated by Fousesquawk.

Pro-Palestinians in London: "F---the Jews, F--- Their Mothers, Rape Their Daughters"

 Hat tip the JC. Viewer warning.

On Saturday, pro-Palestinian protesters fought with police near the Israeli embassy on Saturday. Nine cops were injured. In addition, they chanted the old refrain, "Khaybar, Khaybar, O Jews! The armies of Mohammad are returning," a reference to a 7th-century conquest of the town of Khaybar in present-day Saudi Arabia,  in which Jews were murdered by Mohammad's army.

https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/nine-police-officers-injured-as-police-disperse-crowds-outside-israeli-embassy-1.516773

On Sunday, it got even worse, as thugs with Palestinian flags, rode through North London, with a loudspeaker saying, "F the Jews, F their mothers, rape their daughters".

 https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/pro-palestinian-convoy-tours-north-london-with-speaker-shouting-f-k-the-jews-rape-their-daughters-1.516778

This is the true face of the anti-Israel movement. They didn't say, "Khaybar, Khaybar, o Zionists". They didn't say, "F--- the Zionists." It was Jews they attacked in this most vulgar of manner. And they have the nerve to pose as defenders of human rights for the poor, downtrodden Palestinians. They are latter-day Nazis.

May God protect Israel and the Jewish people from this scum, which has no place in Western society. 

Paris: The Unauthorized Pro-Palestinian "Demonstrations"

Today, there are pro-Palestinian "demonstrations" going on in Paris, despite the fact that such demonstrations have been prohibited in Paris due to the obvious risk of disorder and danger to the populace.

But rules and regulations are for other people, namely the French, not the benighted supporters of the Palestinians. So here below are some links to three major French news outlets, showing videos of the "demonstrations". The fourth link is from the conservative French blog, FDesouche, and shows several videos both in Paris and other places where protests have been authorized. 

Le Monde

 https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2021/05/15/appel-a-une-manifestation-de-soutien-aux-palestiniens-a-paris-malgre-l-interdiction_6080289_3224.html

France 24

https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20210515-%C3%A0-paris-les-soutiens-au-peuple-palestinien-se-rassemblent-malgr%C3%A9-l-interdiction

Le Figaro

https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/manifestation-pro-palestinienne-interdite-a-paris-les-forces-de-l-ordre-dispersent-les-regroupements-20210515

FDesouche

https://www.fdesouche.com/2021/05/15/tensions-entre-israel-et-palestine-malgre-les-nombreux-appellent-les-manifestations-seront-interdites-a-paris-ce-samedi/

The Pro-Palestinian Protesters Target Jews

How many times have you heard that the pro-Palestinian movement is not about attacking Jews or Judaism? It's just against Zionism and the policies of Israel vis-a-vis the Palestinians, right? It's a key feature of their vast propaganda machine when dealing with Westerners. But as usually happens, when they get riled up about something, as they are now riled up over developments in the Middle East, the Jew-hatred comes spewing out. In fact, I would argue that the entire Israel-Palestinian conflict is not about land. It is about religion. As you will see just from some of the examples I have chosen below, these protests are often accompanied by the threatening cry of, "Allahu Akbar". But it has nothing to do with religion, right?

In addition, the pro-Palestinian rallies, unlike the pro-Israel rallies, are always tense, on the verge of getting out of hand, or at times violent. Sometimes, if you are lucky, they only interfere with traffic. In some cases, however, synagogues are targeted. But it has nothing to do with religion, right? Synagogues have been targeted for protests or even vandalism. 

Both in Europe and the US, the Jew-hatred has manifested itself during the past week. In Europe, many major cities have been hit with pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protests. I would like to show you a few.

On May 14, protesters took to the streets in the Dutch city of Utrecht. You can see what happened here and here.

Also on May 14, protesters took over the famed Piazza del Duomo in Milan. That can be viewed here. 

May 12 Stockholm  (Hat tip Samnytt)

https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gelsenkirchen?src=hashtag_click

(Above) May 12 Gelsenkirchen (Germany) in front of synagogue: "Shit Jews!" Note the Turkish flags.

(Hat tip Ongehoord Nederland)

And, perhaps,  most shockingly, right here in the USA, in Florida (Hat tip RAIR Foundation)

*Update: The NY-based Jewish site, Algemeiner, reports that the group involved in the above Florida incident are believed to be "white nationalists".

Italy: Breaking-Matteo Salvini Acquitted

 Hat tip HeHa

Ex-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has been acquitted of kidnapping charges in Sicily based on his actions as interior minister in prohibiting the off-loading of illegal migrants in Italy. This is a great victory for Italy.

We are working on getting English sub-titles for the below video.

(Update: Here it is.)

 

Germany: Who Is Attacking the Synagogues?

Germany in November 1938: Kristallnacht

May  2021

A rhetorical question, of course. With the fighting heating up between the Israelis and the terrorists of Hamas in Gaza, Germany's synagogues require special protection. That's because they are being attacked.

No, the (German) Nazis have not returned to Germany. It's not the Storm Troopers answering the call of Adolf Hitler and Josef Goebbels to sack Jewish businesses and burn synagogues.

Officially, the German government has recognized Israel's right to defend itself against the terrorists who rule Gaza. The problem is that they keep allowing more people to enter the country who bring with them an age-old enmity for Jews. That is why, with the Israel-Palestinian conflict once again heating up, we see synagogues being targeted in Germany. Germany, like so many of its neighbors,  has a problem with "imported anti-Semitism", the last thing this country needs.

The below article from Deutsche Welle is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.dw.com/de/maas-null-toleranz-f%C3%BCr-angriffe-auf-synagogen-in-deutschland/a-57519923

Anti-Israel action

Federal President Steinmeier: "Jew-hatred (cannot) be tolerated."

The anti-Semitic attacks in Germany are causing consternation. Federal President Steinmeier speaks of crimes that must be prosecuted. Israel's ambassador worries about the safety of the Jewish community.

Rocks thrown at synagogues, burned flags with the Jewish Star of David: The hate and the anger against Jews in several German cities as a result of the Middle East conflict has outraged and alarmed German politicians. "Jew-hatred-from whomever it comes- we do not want and will not tolerate in our country," said Federal President Walter Steinmeier to "Bild"-Newspaper. Nothing justifies threats against Jews in Germany or attacks on synagogues in German cities. 

"Our basic law guarantees the right of expression and demonstration. But who burns flags with the Star of David and shouts anti-Semitic words on our streets is abusing not only the freedom to demonstrate, but is committing crimes, which must be prosecuted," explained Steinmeier.

Caption beneath photo: Police guard Bonn synagogue after attack on Tuesday. 

Similar to the Federal President, the federal government underlined the freedom to demonstrate. But who uses such protests to "scream out their Jew-hatred," abuses this right, said its spokesman, Steffen Seibert. The federal government will not tolerate anti-Semitic demonstrations.

Whoever protests in front of a synagogue or damages Jewish symbols, shows "that he is not criticizing a government, rather hatred toward a religion and those who are members of it," The government stands against that with all its might. Seibert emphasized that the federal government condemns every form of anti-Semitism, no matter, whether it comes from Islamic, extreme right, or extreme left circles.

Caption beneath photo: The Israeli ambassador, Jeremy Issacharoff, worries about the Jewish community in Germany.

The Israeli ambassador in Berlin called on Germany to take action. "I ask the German authorities urgently to do everything to safeguard the security of our community," said Jeremy Issacharoff to ARD. The Israeli government is very concerned about anti-Semitic acts like attacks on synagogues in Bonn, Münster, and other cities. "The conflict in the Middle East has nothing to do with the Jewish community here in Germany," emphasized Issacharoff.

Zero tolerance for attacks on synagogues

Germany's foreign minister, Heiko Maas, is appealing to all citizens, not to accept, "when people of the Jewish faith in Germany are held responsible for the events in the Middle East-in the streets as well as social media". 

The minister emphasizes:  "For attacks on synagogues, there can be zero tolerance in our country."  Maas further told the newspapers of the Funke Media Group:  "It is so sad that it is generally necessary. The State must, without any ifs and buts, guarantee the security of the synagogues."

The Representative of the Federal Government for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight Against Anti-Semitism, Felix Klein, spoke of terrifying images of destruction and suffering from the Middle East. "At the same time, 4,000 km away in Germany, we see violent rioters in front of synagogues, burning Israeli flags and openly chanting anti-Semitic words in a repulsive way. It is appalling how Jews in Germany are publically being held responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, with which they are completely uninvolved. That is pure anti-Semitism."

Solidarity with the Palestinians or criticism of the Israeli government are no justifications for violence, as has been seen in Bonn, Gelsenkirchen, and other German cities, Anti-Semitism Representative Klein Stein said in a statement.

In the Middle East, the violence between Israel and the radical Islamic organization, Hamas, is widening. Militant Palestinian organizations like Hamas and Islamic Jihad have fired more than 1600 rockets since Monday, according to Israeli information. As a result, at least 8 people have been killed and several hundred injured. In response, the Israeli Air Force bombarded targets in the Gaza Strip. 

Caption beneath photo: Israeli defenses stop rockets, which were fired from the  Gaza Strip at the town of Ashkelon

According to Palestinian sources, there were at least 119 people killed and several hundred injured. The trigger for the bloody exchange is the threatened forced eviction of about 30 Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem, which Jewish Israelis claim.

Merkel stands by Israel's self-defense

Regarding the escalation in the Middle East, Government Spokesman Seibert explained that Chancellor Angela Merkel condemns the continuing rocket attacks against Israel in the sharpest (terms). "These are terror attacks with one goal, killing people and spreading fear indiscriminately and arbitrarily. Nothing justifies such terror. This rocket-firing must stop immediately. The Federal Government stands with Israel's right to self-defense against these attacks."

Against the backdrop of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, there have been several attacks against Jewish institutions in Germany. On (Wednesday night-Thursday morning), an unidentified person attacked the synagogue in Mannheim and destroyed a windowpane. A police patrol encountered a 20-year-old in the vicinity, who said he had been a witness to the incident.

Caption beneath photo: View of Mannheim synagogue

State Security is investigating and also examining the role of the young man. The police are again increasing presence at Jewish institutions in Mannheim. Mayor Christian Specht condemned the attack on site and expressed his solidarity with the Jewish community.

On Wednesday evening, police in Hanover broke up an anti-Israel gathering for violation of Corona-regulations. According to information from the police, around 550 people took part, two of whom attempted to burn an Israeli flag.

In Gelsenkirchen, the police stopped an announced anti-Israel demonstration. Some 180 people had set off from the square in front of the train station in the direction of the synagogue, in which there were anti-Semitic chants, the police reported. The Central Council of Jews in Germany posted a video on Twitter, in which the chants are heard.

An initial investigative success

Meanwhile, one suspected perpetrator has been identified. As police report, it is a 26-year-old German-Lebanese from Gelsenkirchen. State Security has set up an investigative commission to clear up details quickly, it said.

Caption beneath photo: On Thursday, there was already a protest in Munich against Israel's actions in the Middle East.

Police in Wurzburg reported that on (Wednesday night-Thursday morning), an unidentified man tore down an Israeli flag that was hanging in front of the State Council Office, from its mast and badly damaged it. In Berlin, unidentified person(s) stole an Israeli flag from the CDU- Central (Christian Democrat Party); In front of the Pankow (district in Berlin), unidentified persons(s) tried to set an Israel flag on fire that was hanging there.

Fight anti-Semitism with all tools

After the escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, Israeli flags in front of synagogues in Münster and Bonn were set on fire on (Tuesday night-Wednesday morning). In Bonn, the entrance area of the synagogue was damaged by thrown rocks; three suspects were arrested. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer declared, they would not tolerate," that on German soil, Israeli flags would be burned or Jewish institutions attacked". The CDU politician added, "We will fight anti-Semitic hate with all the tools of the rule of law."

Caption beneath photo:

Security precautions have also been sharpened in front of the synagogue in Frankfurt.

After the latest anti-Semitic incidents, the Green Party asked the minister to give an assessment of the situation to the Interior Committee of the Parliament. "We must do everything for Jews to be able to live in safety (in Germany)," said the Green Party interior expert, Irene Mihalic, in Berlin.