Israel's Holocaust memorial vandalized with anti-Zionist graffiti

Israeli police inspect anti-Zionist Hebrew graffiti, some thanking Hitler for the Holocaust, on Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Holocaust museum compound June 11, 2012 in Jerusalem.

/ Getty

(CBS News) JERUSALEM - Vandals have spray painted anti-Zionist graffiti on the walls of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, one of Israel's most sacred institutions. Police suspect ultra-Orthodox Jewish militants because the slogans were in Hebrew and one was signed: "World Ultra-Orthodox Jewry."

"Hitler, thank you for the Holocaust," reads one slogan, while another says: "Jews, wake up, the evil Zionist regime doesn't protect us, it jeopardizes us."

Many ultra-Orthodox Jews are anti-Zionist because they believe that a Jewish state can only be established by the Messiah under the laws of the Torah (the Five Books of Moses). They see modern-secular Zionism as an abomination.

Yad Vashem chairman Avner Shalev tells CBS News he is "shocked and dazed by this callous expression of burning hatred against the Zionists and Zionism." He calls the vandalism a "very grave crossing of a red line."

Other officials say the graffiti desecrates the memory of the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

It is the latest in a long string of incidents of vandalism blamed on the ultra-Orthodox, who have sharpened the religious-secular divide in Israel. Last week, authorities blamed ultra-Orthodox Jews for destroying mosaics at a 4th century synagogue in Galilee. Some of the Hebrew-language graffiti said it had been scrawled in retaliation for Israeli archaeologists disturbing ancient Jewish graves.

The vandalism has increased resentment among Israel's secular majority, which is already angry that tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva (seminary) students are exempt from the nation's military draft.

In addition, religious institutions receive massive financial aid from the state. The ultra-Orthodox make up only about 10 percent of the population, and many Israelis feel they get more than their share of the national pie, while not sharing the burden of national service.

This story was filed by CBS Radio News correspondent Robert Berger.

[Tamala-Prince]

..ahh im glad folks are retaliating against what they finally understand. So people we all know that "the jews" are really not jews but the descendants from babylon and tricked you (while using the system of the Serpant/EVIL/scionism)into thinking they were "the people" even enslaving the whites/romans making them take the wrap for their iniquities enslaving the true "jews/the black slaves" and and.... the walls come tumbling down.
Hello people its time to start slaughtering "the jews" they can have that name theyve, acquired too much lies, wars and drama surrounding it.

dont worry, another more through holocaust is about to take place and this will definitely be documented. happy apocalypse

[hypnotoad72]

Everyone has different opinions. Yell all one wants, but in socially acceptable venues and methods.

This graffiti is just petty thuggy vandalism.

It's like keying another's car because of a bumper sticker you find offensive - if I am mature enough not to do that sort of thing, so should everybody else. It's sad to report how many cars with stickers have key marks on them... regardless of what the stickers say. (never mind it's a road hazard, people preferring to bloviate their beliefs instead of being mindful of others on the road... but don't whine at me if you get into trouble because of your stickers. But I digress.)

[superdem1]

These people are insane, we need to cut them off - this "pie" they are distributing is AMERICAN dollars, from you and me. I don't support this one little bit. It is against American interests to indulge these maniacs' fantasies. Israel was established in the Middle East like a hot poker up everyone else's you know what. We've maintained it in direct contempt for our own founding principles of liberty and justice for ALL, and we are shown to be hipocrites over and over again as we allow them to suppress the local populations.

[divadiver1]

These guys need to get out of Dodge. Freedom of speech . . . the right to protest . . . Israel's Declaration of Independence. Let's see how far their crap would fly in Iran. Who knows how the Messiah plans to re establish the land of Israel to the Jews. Perhaps it is already here. Think I'll take some bricks and mortar to the Old City and start that rebuilding the Temple project I've been contemplating.

[fleaspirit]

Oh when will the anti Semitism end? When will the chosen ones finally be free from the persecution of Nazis and Neo Nazis and Skinheads and all the other anti Semites? I hope our government will respond to this terrible threat against our only ally in the region by sending them more aid and weapons so they are not at risk from antiSemitic monsters.

[pbaird2]

Ultra-orthodox Jews, Taliban Muslims and Fundamentalist Christians all want to turn the calendar back 2000 years as if that was a golden age. Absolutely, disease and starvation along with war and slavery would be so very attractive. People have a right to their beliefs but only to the point where it adversely affects others.

[tranic-2009]

"... disease and starvation along with war and slavery would be so very attractive." And that in what way is different from today's world than it was in 2000 years ago?

[Bob654322]

As if any Jew would write "Hitler, thank you for the Holocaust." It's obvious who wrote this and its not the Neturei Karta wackos.

[opedanderson2]

Well, at least they are no longer denying the Holocaust and they did in Iran a few years ago....