Hundreds of Jewish graves vandalised in France

Hundreds of Jewish graves have been subjected to antisemitic vandalism at a cemetery in eastern France, near the border with Germany.

Just as Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, said the situation was now so bad that European Jews should immigrate to Israel, the 400 graves in Sarre-Union in Alsace were desecrated with swastikas and Nazi slogans.

The headstones were kicked over and desecrated with red paint.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls tweeted that everything possible will be done to catch those responsible for such an "ignoble and anti-Semitic act, an insult to memory." He also urged the whole of France to be vigilant against such "messages of hate".

The number of anti-Semitic attacks has recently increased in France. A kosher supermarket in Paris was one of the sites attacked by Islamist gunmen in the shootings last month that left 17 people dead.

Bernard Cazeneuve, French interior minister, was visiting the site of the Copenhagen shootings when he said the country would "not tolerate this latest attack which harms the values all French people share."

He added: "This was an odious act against religious freedom and tolerance. France will not tolerate this latest attack which harms the values all French people share."

related articles
Former Chief Rabbi: British Jews fear for their safety
Former Chief Rabbi: British Jews fear for their safety

Former Chief Rabbi: British Jews fear for their safety

Lord Sacks: Religious terrorism could continue for at least \'another generation\'
Lord Sacks: Religious terrorism could continue for at least 'another generation'

Lord Sacks: Religious terrorism could continue for at least 'another generation'

News
The secret to true and lasting change
The secret to true and lasting change

True and lasting change is possible - though perhaps not in the way we’ve been taught to pursue it.

Churches urged to support alcohol-free January as millions sign up nationwide
Churches urged to support alcohol-free January as millions sign up nationwide

Churches across the UK are being encouraged to actively support Dry January this New Year, as millions of people commit to a month without alcohol.

42 Christian and Muslim men executed by bandits in Nigeria, women and children abducted
42 Christian and Muslim men executed by bandits in Nigeria, women and children abducted

Nigeria greeted the New Year with yet more violence by militants, with 50 people killed in a number of attacks that took place between 28 December and 3 January in the Middle Belt region.

Pre-Nicene Christian art found in Turkey
Pre-Nicene Christian art found in Turkey

The mural predates the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.