So now we know that this was not some childish prank, some act of random destruction at the hands of overly exuberant kids. On Sunday evening news broke of a massive desecration of a Jewish cemetery in Alsace, France. Hundreds of graves were overturned and broken, not the first time this Jewish cemetery had been desecrated.
In our discussion here, when it was discovered that the attack was by young men, aged 15 to 17, there were hopes expressed that this was more of a prank than an anti-Semitic attack. Boys will be be boys, etc., etc. We were all hoping that this would prove to be the case.
Today, French prosecutors have announced that during the questioning of the young men, they admitted to spitting on the graves, calling out "Dirty Jew!" and "Heil, Hitler." They admitted also to urinating on the tombs.
Here are a few links in French:
Europe 1
Les jeunes ont fait des « saluts nazis », ont craché sur des symboles juifs, et prononcé les mots « sales juifs », « sale race », « Heil Hitler » ou « Sieg Heil ».
(The youth made Nazi salutes, spat on Jewish symbols, called out "Dirty Jews, Dirty Race, Heil Hitler or Sieg Heil.")
Le Monde
An ancient hatred, passed on from generation to generation…. When will they ever learn?