This morning (Monday), the inscription "There is a Holocaust in Gaza" was discovered on the stones of the Western Wall, in the area opposite Ezrat Israel - as well as in the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem.
The suspect in the act, a 27-year-old Haredi resident of the city, was questioned on suspicion of insulting religion, confessed to the acts and expressed remorse for them. Initially, a decision was made to release him, but after it was discovered that this was not just an isolated incident, it was decided that he would be remanded in custody and the police requested an extension of his detention by five days.
But the judge rejected the request.
This was after the family of the young Haredi man contacted the office of the Chief Rabbinate, Rabbi Yosef, and informed him that he was dealing with serious mental health problems, with a history of hospitalizations in the past. The office passed the information on to the authorized authorities.
The judge, who called the case a "sad case," ruled that the suspect was not a danger to the public and said that his medical condition required treatment. Therefore, he ordered his release and his transfer to the psychiatric emergency room at Eitanim Hospital.
In addition, he will be removed from the Great Synagogue for a period of two weeks, but not from the Western Wall area because the judge in the case claimed: "I will not remove a Jew from the Western Wall.".
The Israel Antiquities Authority reported that in the early hours of the morning, the Israel Antiquities Authority's Conservation Administration team, who were on their way to routine work in the Western Wall tunnels, spotted graffiti sprayed in red on the stones of the Western Wall, near Ezrat Israel.
The conservators immediately began removing the inscription, using methods and materials specifically designed for removing graffiti from ancient sites - water-based materials that do not damage the surface of the ancient stone.
The conservators avoided using chemicals in order to preserve the appearance of the ancient site. The inscription was completely removed, and the stones were returned to their original condition, while maintaining the conservation values.
Ami Shahar, head of the Preservation Administration at the Israel Antiquities Authority: "Damaging antiquities sites constitutes a serious violation of the law and, of course, of the cultural heritage of all of us. This is doubly serious when it comes to the Western Wall – a site of enormous historical, cultural, and religious importance.""
Dr. Amit Ram, Jerusalem Region Archaeologist at the Israel Antiquities Authority: "The construction of the Western Wall, which was done about 2,000 years ago, during the Second Temple period, is a true wonder: the use of giant stones, each weighing tons, the absolute precision of the construction, the impressive dimensions, and the engineering planning that is unparalleled in the ancient world. At the Israel Antiquities Authority, we continue to study the Western Wall from every aspect and discover new aspects of it all the time. At the same time, through ongoing activities, we work to prevent damage to it and ensure that everyone can continue to be amazed by this wonder.""
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