Hania, Greece – A synagogue on the Greek island of Crete has been targeted by arsonists for the second time in three weeks, local police said Saturday.
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They said an unknown number of people entered the building in the city of Hania, broke through a first-floor door and started a fire.
The fire brigade said the blaze partly destroyed the synagogue’s wooden ceiling, as well as many of its archives, computers and CDs. It estimates the damage at $43,000.
The attack occurred around 4 am (0200 GMT) Saturday.
Police said about 2,500 books, many of them rare editions, and several computers were destroyed in this and a previous arson attack three weeks ago before firefighters could extinguish it, the report said. A room with more valuable books was saved.
Chania’s 300 Jews were deported in 1944, but died when their ship sank on the way to the mainland.
Is there an fund collecting money where I would be able to make a donation?
I am sick to my stomach, knowing first hand through my parents that were born in Salonicka Greece. They also told stories of arson during the time of Yemach Shemo,
Hitlers invasion and destruction of the Sephardim of Greece.
Yes Fortune.
ALPHA BANK (Hania, Crete)
Account name: Friends of Etz Hayyim
Account # 776-002101-087154
IBAN: GR74 0140 6600 7760 0210 1087 154
Nicholas Hannan-Stavroulakis / Director Etz Hayyim Synagogue/ Hania
The Greek policy in close collaboration of the Israeli authorities, arrested the perpetuators of this terrible criminal act. The perpetuator sof this crime are: two British citizens which where working in the NATO base in Hania, aged 33 and 24, one Greek citizens that was working in the NATO base, and two USA citizens, one of which was the main person responsible for the first attack against the historical and religious monument that everybody in Hania is proud about, the synagogue, where working in the USA military base in Hania. As a result the Greek policy has not been allowed to arrest them.
The footage taken by the security cameras form the near buy shops provided all the necessary evidence, as they included clear footage of the crime as it was committed.
A political storm is in the are in Greece due to the identities and employment of the 4 out of five of the criminals (NATO/ USA troops based in the equivalent bases). Of course the Walt Street Journal, which immediately attacked the Greek public, has failed to report of names, identities and employment of the criminals that committed this terrible act. Unfortunately 2500 books were destroyed by the acts of the two USA, two UK and one Greek, criminals.
The USA military authorities should had over immediately to the Greek police the two criminals that are hiding in the USA facilities in Hania, as they have to face the Greek justice system for their criminal acts.
I’m from the city of Hania and the thought of this type of attack there made me sick. I’m so glad to find out that the crime was not perpertrated by the locals but angry that it happened at all. The Jewish history in Chania dates back centuries. It’s part of the city.