Anti-Semitic graffiti defaces Rome walls

(ANSA) - Rome, July 30 - 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.