Israeli-American Council LA headquarters vandalized with Nazi symbols

The Los Angeles headquarters of the Israeli-American Council (IAC) were vandalized over the weekend with antisemitic messages, the IAC said.

A yellow swastika and double lightning bolts in the style of the Nazi SS paramilitary group alongside the word “burn” were spraypainted at the entrance to the organization’s building in Woodland Hills. A cardboard snowman at the building’s entrance was also defaced with a swastika.

“F— Jews, BDS” was also spraypainted on a barrier along the Highway 101 freeway entrance nearby, referring to the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. Additional swastikas were also painted around the area.

The IAC said it was actively working with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Topanga Community Police to investigate the incident. An image of the suspect was captured on security footage, the organization said.

“This attack is not just on our building, but on the values we stand for: unity, safety, and pride in our identity,” IAC posted on its Facebook page. The organization was founded in 2007 in order to strengthen bonds between Israeli-American communities.

“This incident will not intimidate or deter us,” IAC CEO Elan Carr added. “On the contrary, it fuels our determination to stand even stronger against antisemitism and to protect and strengthen our community for generations to come.”

The attack came as antisemitism soars in the US and around the world since Hamas launched its war against Israel on October 7, 2023.

The number of antisemitic incidents in the US broke annual records for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, with 9,354 recorded cases of harassment, vandalism and assault, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said in April. That translates to more than 25 targeted anti-Jewish incidents per day on average, or more than one every hour.