Western Wall desecrated with antisemitic graffiti

Israel Police have detained a suspect who allegedly graffitied the Western Wall complex and the Great Synagogue with an antisemitic message.

Antisemitic graffiti has been found in multiple locations across Jerusalem, including at the Western Wall complex and the Great Synagogue, on Monday.

The graffiti, written in Hebrew, says, “There is a Holocaust in Gaza.”

Security guards noticed the graffiti near the Mugrabi Gate on Monday morning and alerted Israel Police of the incident. After further investigation, the police discovered that the suspect had also allegedly graffitied a similar message on the wall of the Great Synagogue in central Jerusalem.

The graffiti has since been removed from the Western Wall.

A 27-year-old Jerusalem resident was brought in for questioning on Monday and was intended to be later released under restrictive conditions.

After realizing that the vandalism was not a single, isolated incident, it was decided to bring the suspect before the court later today, where the Israel Police will formally request to extend the suspect’s detention.

The suspect was also detained in Tel Aviv last week for vandalizing a photo of a soldier who was killed in the war.

Responses to the graffiti

Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, condemned the desecrating act. “A holy place is not a place to express protests,” he said, urging Israel Police to locate the perpetrator and act appropriately.

“They have forgotten what it means to be Jewish,” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote, slamming the vandal on X/Twitter. “Those who are capable of defiling [the stones] with sickening antisemitic blood libels have forgotten what it means to be Jewish.”

MK Benny Gantz commented on the incident: “Vandalizing the stones of the Western Wall, the holiest site for the Jewish people, is a crime against all of Israel. I call on the police to investigate and bring the criminals to justice.”

“Desecration of the Western Wall – one of the holiest sites for the Jewish people – is a vile act and a crossing of a red line that cannot be tolerated,” Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed in a post to X/Twitter.

“The Western Wall is the place where generations of Jews stood in prayer and tears. It is a symbol of the unity and eternity of the Jewish people,” Minister of Education Yoav Kisch…