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| Down Under |
| Aussie Jewish Youth Centre targeted by firebugs |
| 2006-08-01 |
| A JEWISH youth centre in Sydney has been targeted in an attack community leaders say is clearly linked to the war between Israel and Hezbollah. It is the second anti-Semitic attack in Sydney in four days. NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff said today attackers had failed in their bid to set alight the Jewish youth movement centre, adjacent to the Mizrachi Synagogue on Old South Head Road at Bondi. Investigations had shown the assailants intended to cause much greater damage, dousing wooden blocks inside the building with gasoline and trying to set them alight. The building, which is in construction, was vacant at the time of the fire and had minor damage. Mr Alhadeff said the incident was clearly linked to rising tensions in the Middle East. "Whenever there is a rise in tensions in the Middle East, there is a clear increase in the number of anti-Semitic attacks in Australia," Mr Alhadeff said. "Racism has no place in our society." Parramatta Synagogue, in Sydney's west, was the target of an anti-Semitic attack on Sunday evening when projectiles were hurled at the building's roof and blocks of concrete were thrown at two cars, smashing windows. Officers are searching for 10 men of Middle Eastern appearance seen laughing and running from the Mason Street synagogue after it was attacked about 9pm (AEST). NSW Police have responded by stepping up patrols of Jewish and Islamic sites as the crisis in the Middle East deepens. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |