Swastika
SwastikaIsrael News photo: Flash 90

Anti-Semitic graffiti found recently in Jerusalem may indicate that a Russian neo-Nazi gang is back in business, Rabbi Zalman Gilichinski warns. Rabbi Gilichinski heads a center to assist victims of anti-Semitism in Israel.

The graffiti was found in the neighborhood of Pisgat Ze'ev in northern Jerusalem. It included swastikas and praise of Hitler.
Anti-Jewish graffiti in the capital is usually attributed to Arabs. However, Rabbi Gilichinski said, “The style of writing, ‘Hitler z”l,’ is not an Arab style.”

“It’s still hard at this point to say who did it, but on the surface of things it seems it could be from the anti-Semitic gang Patrol 36,” he continued.

Patrol 36 is a neo-Nazi group that was previously active in some parts of Israel, he explained. “It’s a gang that serves as a local branch for Russian neo-Nazism.”

Police arrested several young Israeli men active in Patrol 36 in 2007. The detainees were all non-Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Gang leader Dimitri Bogotich fled to Kyrgyzstan but was arrested there and extradited to Israel, where he was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months in prison.

Some of those who were sentenced to jail terms have already been released, Rabbi Giichinski noted.

Arutz Sheva contacted the Jerusalem Police regarding the matter but has not yet received a response.