“The repeated desecration of the Jewish Monument, built on the destroyed graves of the Jews of Thessaloniki, is absolutely and unequivocally contemptible and must be condemned at the highest levels,” said WJC CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer. “Sadly, this is only one of several Jewish monuments in Greece vandalized in recent months. It must be made unquestionably clear that this is not an isolated incident. There is an alarming epidemic of hatred at play today, that deserves immediate and vigorous attention.”

BRUSSELS –The Jewish Monument in Thessaloniki, Greee, dedicated to the memory of the city’s Jews who perished in the Holocaust was desecrated by unknown people for the second time in several months.

The vandalism of the monument,  located on the campus of the Aristite University, occurred on Frday, two days before International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The same monument was vandalized last July.

On Sunday, speaking at the weekly  cabin et meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘’strongly’’ condemned this act and called on the international community to act against revived anti-semitism, especially in Europe.

‘’Anti-semitism from the right is not a new phenomenon there. What is new in Europe is the combination of Islamic anti-semitism and the anti-semitism of the extreme left which includes anti-Zionism, such as has recently occurred in Great Britain and in Ireland. What a disgrace. We condemn all forms of anti-semitism as such,’’ he said.

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) said it stands with the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS) ‘’in categorically condemning the despicable vandalism.’’

“The repeated desecration of the Jewish Monument, built on the destroyed graves of the Jews of Thessaloniki, is absolutely and unequivocally contemptible and must be condemned at the highest levels,” said WJC CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer. “Sadly, this is only one of several Jewish monuments in Greece vandalized in recent months. It must be made unquestionably clear that this is not an isolated incident. There is an alarming epidemic of hatred at play today, that deserves immediate and vigorous attention.”

“This despicable act of vandalism, just two days before International Holocaust Remembrance Day, underscores the very reason why it is imperative for Jews and non-Jews alike to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and call global awareness to the real and present dangers of antisemitism, bigotry, and xenophobia. Anybody who believes that such hatred is relegated only to the past is severely mistaken. Antisemitism is alive and well today and continues to pose a constant threat to Jews worldwide,” Singer said.

“I visited the Jewish Monument in Thessaloniki during my visit there some two years, and met with the governor, the mayor, and other city authorities, and I know how deeply they care about the safety and protection of the community,” Singer added.