The Simon Wiesenthal Center has condemned a shocking anti-Israel campaign in Vienna, where posters depicting an Israeli soldier labeled “WANTED” for alleged war crimes were plastered across the city. The posters, part of an effort to delegitimize the State of Israel, have sparked outrage and calls for swift action.
The campaign coincides with an international conference in Berlin, hosted by the Simon Wiesenthal Center and German Minister of Justice Dr. Volker Wissing, titled “Combating Hate: A Transatlantic Dialogue.”
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Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action for the Wiesenthal Center, denounced the posters, stating, “There may be a ceasefire in Gaza and southern Lebanon, but there is no ceasefire in the war against the Jews.” He emphasized that the campaign seeks to demonize Israel and its soldiers for defending their nation against existential threats.
Wolfgang Sobotka, President of Campus Tivoli and former Austrian National Council President, echoed these concerns, labeling the act as antisemitic incitement. “Accusing an Israeli soldier in the service of the only democratic state of crimes without legal basis is highly criminally relevant and pure antisemitism,” he stated, calling for Europol and Austrian authorities to intervene.
The Wiesenthal Center has urged Austrian authorities to investigate the incident and called on Europol to take decisive action against those responsible for spreading harmful propaganda.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in combating antisemitism and misinformation across Europe, even as international efforts to address hate speech intensify.