Parramatta, Australian - Rabbi's House Attacked
Parramatta, Australian - Rabbi Yossi Wernick became the latest victim of attacks believed to be in response to the escalating Mid-East crisis.
Community and political leaders are calling for calm after a Sydney synagogue was targeted in an attack believed to be tied to the escalating war between Israel and Lebanon.
Projectiles were hurled at the roof of the Parramatta Synagogue, in Sydney's west, and blocks of concrete were thrown at two cars, smashing windows.
Police have responded by stepping up patrols of Jewish and Islamic sites as the crisis in the Middle East deepens.
Officers are searching for 10 men of Middle Eastern appearance seen laughing and running from the Mason Street synagogue after it was attacked.
Rabbi Yosef Wernick, 32, and his young family were inside a house adjoining the synagogue when it was targeted. He said the conflict between Israel and Lebanon may have been a trigger for the attack on the synagogue, which was firebombed a few years ago.
posted by VOS IZ NEIAS @ 7/31/2006 07:40:00 AM
1 Comments:
At 1:23 PM,
Anonymous said…
TWO Melbourne synagogues have been vandalised, an orthodox Jew has been beaten up and Jewish writers have received death threats in the weeks since Israel launched its offensive in Lebanon and Gaza.
And Jewish schools and synagogues have stepped up security.
"Die Jews" was scrawled on the Bentleigh Progressive Synagogue, accompanied by a drawing of a swastika being equated to the Star of David.
Large cement blocks were thrown through the stained-glass windows of the Leo Baeck Synagogue in Kew.
And a man of Jewish appearance was bashed.
"A visibly orthodox Jew was beaten up. (He suffered) a split lip and a bloody nose," a Jewish Community Council of Victoria security spokesman said.
"And two people who have written pro-Israel letters to newspapers have received death threats by mail.
"Over 40 emails and phone threats to Jewish organisations in Melbourne alone have also been received."
In Sydney, community and political leaders called for calm after a synagogue was attacked.
Projectiles were hurled at the Parramatta Synagogue on Sunday night and blocks of concrete were thrown at two cars.
The mufti of Australia has written to Israel's Prime Minister calling for a prisoner swap to end the war in Lebanon.
Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also calling for religious leaders to oversee a prisoner exchange, starting with two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah on July 12.
And a group of 10 Australian humanitarian agencies demanded warring parties immediately recognise international laws which oblige them to distinguish between civilians and combatants.
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