Fresh anti-Semitic graffiti has
appeared on a wall in the Prati neighborhood of Rome, Jewish
community spokesman Fabio Perugia said Wednesday.
The phrase "Torch the synagogues" appeared on the same wall
where another graffiti that said "Jews your end is near" was
removed on Tuesday.
Perugia noticed the fresh graffiti while visiting an area
shop, whose windows had been defaced with swastikas.
"This is a stupid act by people who know they are being
hunted down," commented Rome Jewish Community President Riccardo
Pacifici.
"We have reason to believe the perpetrators will soon be
brought to justice".
Pacifici went on to say that National Police Chief
Alessandro Pansa and a delegation of MPs visited him and Rome
Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni to express their support.
"Pansa's visit increased our peace of mind," Pacifici said.
"Jewish schools, institutions and synagogues have been placed
under 24-hour protection, not just in Rome but all over Italy".
Israeli ambassador to Italy, Naor Gilon, also visited the
defaced shop in Prati.
"It is terrible to see swastikas on Jewish shops. Nazi
symbols are making a comeback after 70 years," Gilon said.
"It is important that all Italian politicians speak out
against such phenomena. We have heard condemnations from most
parties, but not all of them".
This is the latest incident since Monday, when Mayor
Ignazio Marino and left-wing politicians expressed solidarity
with the capital's Jewish community after anti-Semitic graffiti
and swastikas appeared on some shops in Prati and on the Via
Appia overnight.
"The anti-Semitic writings that appeared today in different
areas of the city are shameful and an offense to all Romans,"
Marino said.
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