Wellington graffiti condemned

The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand and the New Zealand Jewish Council have condemned vile antisemitic graffiti that appeared overnight in Wellington.

Holocaust Centre of New Zealand, chair, Deborah Hart, said, “This graffiti is, alas, quite accurate. It would appear, once again, to be cool to hate Jews. We actually see that in a stark increase in Jew hatred, the lacklustre response of schools when Jewish children are subjected to abuse, the deplatforming of Jewish artists, hate mail, property damage and the lack of concern for Jewish people generally. The small Jewish community in New Zealand is vulnerable and has suffered ongoing hate, which shows no signs of abating.”

New Zealand Jewish Council spokesperson, Ben Kepes, says, “Under the guise of protest against Israel’s war in Gaza, classic antisemitic tropes, insults and abuse are rife. The Jewish community has been targeted, intimidated and discriminated against through physical attacks, threats of violence, boycotts of Jewish businesses and careers and harassment of students.  Such actions would never be justified or tolerated against any other minority under the guise of opposition to overseas events.”

“The graffiti we saw daubed across a public space in Wellington this morning could have been once daubed across German streets in the 1930s. Then, like now, some leaders are emboldening citizens to find a scapegoat on whom to place blame for all manner of ills. For example, when New Zealand political leaders support calls to “Globalise the Intifada”, they are repeating a call for an armed, violent uprising not only against Jews, but against Western society more generally. We call on all leaders to think before they parrot slogans from overseas that could target our vulnerable Jewish community here”

Ms Hart commented, “It’s chilling to recall the horrific events over 80 years ago, half a world away.  The Holocaust started with hate.  It ended in the Holocaust. It’s time for all to condemn antisemitism, in all its forms and to take care in their messaging.”

Mr Kepes said, “No matter what is going on internationally or politically, New Zealand Jews should be safe and secure in New Zealand. They should not wake to hateful messages in our streets”.