A mentally ill Haredi Jewish man sprayed “there is a Holocaust in Gaza” and “children are dying of hunger” on the Western Wall.
By Rachel Avraham
The Times of Israel reported that Israeli society was outraged on Monday after graffiti was sprayed on Jerusalem’s Western Wall reading, in Hebrew, “There is a Holocaust in Gaza” and “Children are dying of hunger.” According to the report, a similar message was also painted on a wall of the city’s Great Synagogue on King George Street.
“A holy place is not a venue for expressing protests — whatever they may be — and all the more so when it is done at the holiest site to the entire Jewish people,” Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch said in a statement issued by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which manages the site, the Times of Israel added.
Arutz Sheva reported that Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion responded in shock: “I strongly condemn the severe act carried out at the Western Wall — the holiest site for the Jewish people. There is and will be no place for harm to the national and spiritual symbol of the Jewish people, regardless of the background.”
“Protest cannot justify the desecration of a holy site and the harm to the feelings of millions of Jews in Israel and around the world. I expect the Israeli police to act decisively to locate the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Jerusalem will continue to protect its holiness and the dignity of holy sites for all religions,” said Lion.
Arutz Sheva reported that Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the act: “These ancient stones are steeped in the long history of our people. Anyone capable of defiling them with antisemitic blood libels has forgotten what it means to be a Jew.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded in Arutz Sheva: “I was shocked to see the damage and disrespect toward the holiest site of the Jewish people – the Western Wall. The Israel Police will act with lightning speed to arrest the rioter and bring him to justice.”
A 27-year-old Haredi Jewish suspect was arrested and confessed to the crime, but due to a history of mental illness, was released on the condition that his father immediately hospitalize him in a psychiatric hospital. The graffiti was removed by Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA)conservation staff, using water-based materials to avoid damaging the ancient stones, Yedioth Achronot reported.
“Defacing archaeological sites is a serious offense,” said IAA Conservation Division Head Ami Shahar to Yedioth Achronot. “It is all the more serious when it concerns the Western Wall, a site of immense historical, cultural and religious significance.”
Jerusalem district archaeologist Dr. Amit Re’em noted ongoing research and protection efforts at the site to Yedioth Achronot. “We continue to investigate the Western Wall from every aspect and discover new characteristics of it all the time. At the same time, through ongoing activity, we are working to prevent damage to it and ensure that everyone can continue to be amazed by this wonder,” Re’em said.
Photo from Golasso: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall#/media/File:Westernwall2.jpg
