Tag Archives: Jewish Persecution

ISIS Branch in Sinai Peninsula Threatens to Attack Israel in Latest Video

One of the Islamic State’s branches located on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula released a video on Wednesday, threatening to attack Israel.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the 14-minute video was titled “And Then They Will Be Vanquished.” It features one masked member of ISIS, demanding that Egyptian soldiers repent or be killed for attacking the Sinai jihadis.

“Indeed, this apostate army has failed to carry out the mission it was tasked with, and was embarrassed in front of the public and in front of its masters,” the speaker declares.

The terrorist continued by saying that ISIS would raise its flag over a famous Cairo landmark, the Cairo Tower.

Director of Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor of the Middle East Media Research Institute, Rafael Green, told Fox News that the video focuses on the fighting going on in Egypt, but the threat against Israel comes at the end of the video.

The gunman quoted the well-known hadith: “Judgment Day will not come until you fight the Jews and kill them. The Jews will hide behind stones and trees, and the stones and trees will call, ‘O Muslim, o servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him – except for the gharqad tree, which is the tree of the Jews.’”

“The video is focused on the war against the Egyptian military. The threat to Israel comes at the end, where he says that they will reach the Jews,” Green said.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the speaker could be heard delivering his message while footage showed the Egyptian military allegedly killing civilians and blowing up tanks. Then, images of dead Egyptian soldiers were shown.

And while this same branch of ISIS claimed they brought down the Russian plane that crashed in the Sinai Peninsula recently, the new video made no reference to the crash.

ISIS Declares War Against “All the Jews” and Israel in Latest Video

On Sunday, the Islamic State released a new video across social media titled “A Message to Israel.” The 40 second video shows an ISIS jihadi speaking Hebrew and stating that ISIS was declaring war on Israel and the entire Jewish people.

“My message to the [Israel Defense Force] officers and soldiers and all the Jews – we will fight you with God’s help, we will come for you from across the world and we will slaughter you like sheep, prepare for the big war, the war of stone and wood. This is be soon and not long,” the terrorist said, according to a translation by the Jerusalem Post.

The terrorist’s face was pixelated and he was shown wielding a knife while two other men stood on either side of him. He continued:

“To all the Jews, grandsons of apes and pigs, we are coming at you from all over the world. … [The war] is soon; it won’t be long, God willing, God willing,” he said in the video according to the International Business Times.

This is the second video that ISIS has recently released that has called for the annihilation of Jews. Last month, they released a similar video with a masked member of ISIS talking to a camera in Hebrew, announcing war against Israel.

“This is an important message to all Jews — the first enemy of the Muslims. The real war has not yet begun. Whatever you had previously is child’s play [in comparison]. … Do whatever you want in the meantime, until we reach you, and then we will make you pay for the crimes you have committed. … Soon, there will not be even a single Jew left in Jerusalem or the rest of the country. We will keep going until we eradicate this disease worldwide.”

Sunday’s video was released after ISIS declared they were responsible for bringing down the Russian jet that crashed into the Sinai Peninsula, killing 224 people. At this time, it is still unclear as to what brought down the plane.

The Israel Defense Force has stated that they are closely monitoring ISIS, especially along Israel’s southern border with Egypt.

On Saturday, the Democratic Forces of Syria joined forces with U.S.-backed Kurdish militia and Syrian Arab rebel groups in order to start a new offensive against ISIS. Kurdish forces will be leading airstrikes and land offensives to interrupt the Islamic State’s supply lines across the Syria-Iraq border. CNN also reports that 5,000 Yazidi fighters are gearing up for an offensive that will take back the town of Sinjar from ISIS. If they can reclaim Sinjar then ISIS would have a more difficult time resupplying their people in Mosul.

Jewish Neighborhood in San Antonio Struck with Anti-Semitic Graffiti

A predominantly Jewish neighborhood in San Antonio has been struck with vandalism and anti-Semitic graffiti.

Residents first noticed the graffiti as they left morning prayers at an orthodox synagogue on Wednesday.

“We came out of prayer at 7 o’clock this morning and were greeted by broken car windows, and graffiti on the car saying jew, and then a swastika and all types of graffiti that were hate graffiti,” Senior Rabbi Arnold Scheinberg told Fox San Antonio.

One of the defaced items was a memorial to victims of the holocaust that was spray painted with a swastika.  Synagogue officials say that over 30 vehicles and houses were damaged in some manner by the vandals.

The synagogue serves about 300 Jewish families, most of whom live in the neighborhood.

“I want to tell those who did this that you have done something destructive,” said Rabbi Scheinberg. “Your life could be much better if you could have more love than hate.”

“We’d be happy to help you find it,” he added. “If you want to learn a little bit more about the people you hate, we could arrange that, too. (You could) learn more about Jews and people of color so you don’t just hate blindly.”

Man Who Saved Hundreds From Holocaust Passes Away At 106

Nicholas Winton, a British man who for half a century hid his vital role in saving the lives of hundreds during the Holocaust, has passed away at 106.

In 1988, Winton’s wife found a scrapbook in the attic of their home that detailed his work during the Holocaust to save the lives of 669 mostly Jewish children from Czechoslovakia.  He took the children who were given up by the parents in a desperate attempt to save their lives from the Nazis.

Winton was a stockbroker in 1938 when a friend asked him to cancel a Swiss vacation and come to Prague.  He discovered thousands living in horrific conditions after the infamous Kristallnacht.

While many Western nations restricted the immigration of Jews during that time.  Britain, however, had an exception through a program called Kindertransport where a Jewish child under 17 could come to the country if they had a host family.  While mass rescue efforts were carried out in Germany and Austria, there was no campaign for Czechoslovakia.

Winton ran an operation out of a Prague hotel room.  Eventually so many came for help that Winton had to open a storefront and even bribe Gestapo officials to look the other way as he transported the children to safety.

Eventually, Winton and his compatriots transported the children on nine trains.  However, the last train was captured by the Germans before it could cross the German border and none of the 250 children on board were seen again.

Winton actually thought of discarding his scrapbook with details of the historic operation.

“I did not think for one moment that they would be of interest to anyone so long after it happened,” Mr. Winton recalled later.

“Winton still shakes his head in bewilderment and disbelief when compared with Oskar Schindler and Raoul Wallenberg,” author Vera Gissing wrote. “I try to make him realize that his contribution to the human race is immeasurable.”

Madrid Cultural Counselor Resigns Over Anti-Semitic Comments

A man who had been appointed Saturday to be Madrid’s “Cultural Counselor” and a new city councilman has resigned as counselor over anti-Semitic jokes and comments made on twitter in 2011.

Guillermo Zapata tweeted in 2011 “How do you fit five million Jews in a SEAT 600 [a Spanish car]?  In the ashtray.”

Zapata claimed it was all humor and not how he feels about Jews.

“Now some of those tweets, which were written within the context of a conversation on black humor, have been recovered with the goal of presenting them as though they represented my ideas….while in fact I do not defend them at all,” Zapata wrote Sunday.  “I firmly condemn all forms of racism, and, of course, anti-Semitism. I believe the Jewish Holocaust teaches us a lesson that humanity must never forget, so that it is never repeated.”

However, critics of Zapata quickly pointed out how he defended a now-disgraced journalist who denied the Holocaust.

Jews in Spain were quick to issue condemnation for the statements.

“The Jewish community of Madrid has issued an immediate communique asking for explanations and obviously denouncing these types of comments and we also stated that we will not tolerate any kind of anti-Semitism,” said David Hatchwell, the president of the Jewish community of Madrid and vice president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain.

Anti-Semitic Fliers Found In Washington, D.C. Neighborhoods

Residents across the D.C. area have reported hateful anti-Semitic fliers being placed outside their homes.

Residents of the Takoma neighborhood in northwest D.C. reported a two-page flier with declarations about Jews and false quotes was placed around their neighborhood some time early Thursday morning.  Police said that they had also had reports of the flier being distributed in Chevy Chase.

The flier was titled “Jews Destroy U.S. Financially” and stated “remove each and every Jew and Pro-Israel official from state and federal governments and financial organizations.”

The Washington Post reported the flier being delivered to readers in Bloomingdale, Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Georgetown and Mount Pleasant; in other neighborhoods in Chevy Chase; and in Arlington and Alexandria.

“We would have to consult with the state’s attorney to see if this activity actually rises to the level of a criminal violation,” Montgomery County Capt. Paul Starks said.

Police have asked anyone who saw the fliers being distributed to call police with a description of who carried out the distribution.

One of the homes hit by the fliers was that of a rabbi.

“I’ve really been touched by the response of my neighbors,” Rabbi Elizabeth Richman said. “There’s a small amount of feeling uneasy, and maybe feeling a little bit unsafe. I have been thinking about it all day, because of that feeling of unease.”

President Obama Addresses Anti-Semitism At Synagogue Speech

President Obama addressed anti-Semitism during an address at the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington.

“Anti-Semitism is, and always will be, a threat to broader human values to which we all must aspire,” Obama said.  “And when we allow anti-Semitism to take root, then our souls are destroyed, and it will spread.”

The President reasserted America’s support for Israel.

“It would be a moral failing on the part of the US government and the American people, it would be a moral failing on my part if we did not stand up firmly, steadfastly not just on behalf of Israel’s right to exist, but its right to thrive and prosper,” Obama asserted.

The President added that it’s because of his belief in Israel’s right to exist that he has to be critical of some of Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.

“I must object,” he said to applause in the Conservative synagogue. “Papering over hard questions,” he said, is “not a measure of true friendship.”

Although the President admitted “The Palestinians are not the easiest of partners.”

The President gave a glancing mention to his Iran nuclear negotiations which he called “necessary”.

“The deal that we already reached with Iran has already halted or rolled back parts of Iran’s nuclear program. Now we’re seeking a comprehensive solution,” he said, adding that “I will not accept a bad deal.  As I pointed out in my most recent article with Jeff Goldberg, this deal will have my name on it, so nobody has a bigger personal stake in making sure that it delivers on its promise.”

President Obama To Speak At Synagogue

President Obama will be delivering a speech from the pulpit of Congregation Adas Israel in Washington as part of a worldwide event against anti-Semitism.

The speech, which is part of Jewish American Heritage Month, will focus on contributions of Jews to American society according to White House sources.

The White House has been working with the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice over a “solidarity Sabbath” where two dozen governments will taking a stand against the worldwide rise of anti-Semitism.

“We’ve been working with the White House for a considerable period of time, and to their credit, I don’t think there’s any doubt that this administration takes the rise of anti-Semitism very, very seriously,” said Katrina Lantos Swett, president of the Lantos Foundation and chairwoman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

The event will include French officials on social media while the American ambassador hosts a Paris event, the president of Romania is attending a service, the Spanish government is hosting a lunch event and Greece is launching an educational program.

Jewish Mother, Teen Attacked Near Paris

A Jewish mother was one of two victims of anti-Semitic attacks in the Paris area.

The woman was injured by three African women who attacked because the Jewish woman complained about their children throwing a soccer ball at her daughter.

As the trio of women were attacking the Jewish woman, witnesses say they were shouting anti-Semitic slogans and comments.  One witness said the assailants yelled “Hitler didn’t finish the job” and “that Jews were a filthy race.”

One of the women said the victim needed more beatings.

The woman was treated in a hospital for her injuries and required several days of recovery.

“Increasingly, banal conflicts involving Jews degenerate into anti-Semitic incidents and assaults,”  the National Bureau for Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism wrote in a statement, which urged police to “get to the bottom of what happened.”

The BNVCA also reported that a 16-year-old Jewish boy was attacked by four men of Middle Eastern descent.  He was struck in the face and had his phone stolen from him while a fifth man told the gang of four to “break” the victim of the assault.

The boy required emergency eye surgery at Rothschild Hospital.

Former Auschwitz Guard Describes Camp In Detail

A former SS guard on trial in Germany has provided chilling details about the operations of the camp and the lives of those who were imprisoned there.

Oskar Groening is facing 300,000 counts of accessory to murder in connection with his service at the camp from May to July 1944 when Jews from Hungary were brought to the camp and almost immediately murdered.

Groening testified that during the time so many trains full of Jews were coming to the camp that they sometimes had to wait with doors closed while other trains were emptied and processed into the camp.  He testified about one night where he worked 24 hours straight on the ramp at Birkenau where the Jews were brought into the camp and it was “a busy shift”indicating there was non-stop arrivals of victims.

“The capacity of the gas chambers and the capacity of the crematoria were quite limited. Someone said that 5,000 people were processed in 24 hours but I didn’t verify this. I didn’t know,” he said. “For the sake of order we waited until train 1 was entirely processed and finished.”

A surprising part of the testimony was Groening contracting many survivors claims that the process was chaotic, saying it was “very orderly”.

“The process was the same as Auschwitz I. The only difference was that there were no trucks,” he said during the second day of his trial. “They all walked —some in one direction some, in another direction … to where the crematoria and gas chambers were.”

Survivors and their families said they would be satisfied with any confessions given by Groening.

“I’m going to take whatever confession he gives —it’s better than no confession,” survivor Eva Kor, 81, told reporters. “Maybe this is the best thing he has ever done in his life. Isn’t that sad?”