Antisemitic graffiti was found at several places in Jerusalem on Monday, including at the Western Wall and the Great Synagogue.
“There is a Holocaust in Gaza,” said the graffiti in Hebrew.
Security guards noticed the graffiti near Mugrabi Gate in the morning and alerted the Israel Police. The police discovered that a suspect had also allegedly written a similar message on the wall of the Great Synagogue in central Jerusalem.
The graffiti was removed from the Western Wall by Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) conservation professionals.
The conservators had used specialized methods and materials for graffiti removal from antiquities sites, which are water-based and do not cause harm to the surface of the ancient stone, the IAA said. They completely removed the graffiti and restored the stones to their original state, it said.
“Damage to antiquities sites constitutes a serious violation of the law and, of course, of our shared cultural heritage,” said Ami Shahar, head of the IAA’s Conservation Division. “The offense is all the more severe when it concerns the Western Wall – a site of immense historical, cultural, and religious significance.”
Dr. Amit Re’em, an IAA Jerusalem District archeologist, said: “The construction of the Western Wall, carried out about 2,000 years ago during the Second Temple period, is truly a marvel: the use of massive stones, each weighing several tons; the absolute precision of the construction; the impressive dimensions; and the engineering design unparalleled in the ancient world.”
“At the IAA, we continue to study the Wall from every angle, uncovering its secrets time and again,” he said. “At the same time, through ongoing operations, we act to prevent any damage to it and to ensure that all can continue to be inspired by this wonder.”
The police detained a 27-year-old Jerusalem resident for questioning. The police were expected to request that his detention be extended.
The suspect was also detained in Tel Aviv last week for vandalizing a photo of a soldier who was killed in the Israel-Hamas War.
Responses to the graffiti
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites, condemned the act of desecration.
“A holy place is not a place to express protests,” he said, adding that the police should locate the perpetrator and act appropriately.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on X/Twitter: “They have forgotten what it means to be Jewish. Those who are capable of defiling [the stones] with sickening antisemitic blood libels have forgotten what it means to be Jewish.”
Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz said: “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.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X: “Desecration of the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites for the Jewish people, is a vile act and a crossing of a redline that cannot be tolerated.”
Education Minister Yoav Kisch wrote: “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. Harming it is harming us all.”