WJC President Ronald S. Lauder: Jewish vandalism of Muslim sites a desecration of High Holidays

09 October 2011

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder: Jewish vandalism is a desecration of High Holidays

JERUSALEM - The leadership of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) today condemned in the strongest possible terms the recent desecration of holy sites in Israel, sacred to Muslims and Jews. WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said: “The recent so-called ‘price-tag’ desecration, destruction and burning of mosques and holy Muslim books in the Galilee and in Jaffa is a disgrace to the core values of Judaism and the most fundamental principles of democracy and freedom of the State of Israel. It is unconscionable that such acts are perpetrated by Jews and even more so during the High Holidays .They are a desecration and disgrace of the profound moral tradition of Judaism.”

Lauder further stated that “these were the actions of a few extremists who are hijacking the moral fiber of the entire Jewish state and stain Israel’s unique character as the only religiously tolerant country in the Middle East.”

World Jewish Congress Secretary General Dan Diker added: “We unequivocally support the efforts undertaken by the government of Israel to find the perpetrators of this outrageous criminal activity and bring them to justice.

“The World Jewish Congress also unequivocally condemns on-going attacks against Jewish holy sites by Palestinians, most recently the smearing of swastikas on Joseph’s Tomb, as well as repeated assaults for years on Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem that is sacred to both Jews and Christians. We call on the Israeli government to find those responsible and bring them to justice.”

About the World Jewish Congress


The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 92 countries around the world. The WJC serves as the diplomatic arm of the Jewish people to governments, parliaments and international organizations.