Petah Tikva synagogue daubed with Nazi graffiti

A synagogue in the central city of Petah Tivka was vandalized with Nazi graffiti overnight Monday, local residents reported.

Police said Tuesday an investigation had been opened into the swastika and the SS symbol daubed on the outside of the Mikdash Moshe synagogue.

Petah Tikva city councilman Rami Greenberg posted pictures of the vandalism on Facebook, saying it was “shocking to see swastikas spray painted on the oldest synagogue in town.”

“Worshipers who arrived early in the morning for prayer were shocked, like the rest of us, by such severe expressions of anti-Semitism.

“We will not allow anti-Semitism to rear its head in our city, and we will continue efforts to promote love for people and our homeland, as well as tolerance among the Jewish people.”

It was not the first time Petah Tikva has been defaced with Nazi vandalism. Last year, police made several arrests amid a wave of Nazi graffiti found in various locations across the city.

Petah Tikva residents were shocked to find swastikas and Hitler references daubed on several synagogues, schools and city bus stops in mid-2017. Police eventually arrested two 17-year-old Jewish residents of the city for their role in the vandalism.