Anti-Jewish incidents increasing in Ireland

Anti-racism groups in Ireland have expressed concern at a recent rise in anti-Semitic graffiti outside buildings of importance to the Jewish community. Some of the most recent incidents include Nazi symbols being daubed on the Irish-Jewish Museum in the capital Dublin and outside a synagogue in Terenure. The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland has also received a number of anti-Semitic e-mails recently. The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI), an advisory body to the Irish government, also expressed concern at the rise in incidents. Philip Watt of the NCCRI said it was aware of at least 10 incidents since November, some of which have occurred in recent days. "It's very worrying and it seems to be quite calculated. The Jewish community in Ireland is a small and vulnerable one. We're offering whatever help and support that we can," he told a newspaper.