British war cemetery in Haifa vandalised with swastikas
More than 340 casualties from both world wars were laid to rest in the cemetery. UK envoy Neil Wigan 'horrified' by the daubings.
Dozens of war graves in a British cemetery in Haifa have been desecrated, with several swastikas sprayed in red paint on the site, Israel Police said on Friday.
Police are investigating after a cemetery worker doing his morning rounds discovered dozens of headstones desecrated at Haifa War Cemetery.
Over 340 casualties from the First and Second World Wars were laid to rest in the cemetery in the port city of Haifa, including the identified graves of 220 British soldiers.
Neil Wigan, the UK Ambassador to Israel, said he was “horrified” by the news, tweeting on Friday afternoon “I hope the Police will find those responsible.”
חשד לפשע שנאה בחיפה: מצבות הושחתו בבית העלמין הבריטי • @10elilevi עם כל הפרטים >> https://t.co/xKC92oIhy0 pic.twitter.com/V7pwe7Bgtl
— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) October 11, 2019
Staff from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was on site on Friday morning to repair the headstones and remove graffiti.
In a statement, the Commission said it “will never allow such shameful acts to detract from our commemoration of the war dead.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
