Police dispatch unit to area to investigate reports of Nazi swastika symbols and Arabic writing scrawled on ancient synagogue.
By YAAKOV LAPPIN, JPOST.COM STAFFSwastika grafitti (illustrative)(photo credit: REUTERS)
A group of Jewish worshipers said Friday that Palestinians defaced the ancient synagogue of Naaran on the outskirts of Jericho on Friday.Police said that a unit sent to the synagogue found that worshipers had removed most of the graffiti because they wanted to pray at the site. Some part of the graffiti had been covered in sand.Forensic units were on the scene collecting evidence.Chairmen of the Lobby for Greater Israel MKs Arye Eldad (National Union) and Ze'ev Elkin (Likud) released a strong condemnation following reports of the graffiti attack."The use of Nazi symbols demonstrate the close connection between Nazi anti- Semitism, and the Palestinian hatred for Jews," they said.Elkin and Eldad issued a demand that the Israeli government take over responsibility of the site.
