New York, NY, December 5, 2008 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the rioting and violence by Jewish extremists in Hebron against Palestinians and their properties.  The violence, first directed at Israeli police and military personnel, escalated into physical attacks against Palestinians -- their homes, land and Muslim cemeteries -- as the Israeli authorities moved to enforce an order of the Supreme Court to evacuate a contested building.

ADL issued the following statement:

The attacks against Palestinians, their farms, cemeteries and other Muslim property by Jewish extremists are deeply troubling and unacceptable.  These attacks and those against Israeli soldiers and police, who were there to enforce a Supreme Court order to evacuate a contested building, are a direct assault on the rule of law and only serve to undermine Israel's democratic institutions.

We are also disturbed at reports that some of the Jewish extremists wrapped themselves in the imagery of the Holocaust by sewing yellow Stars of David into their clothing and shouting "Nazi" at Israeli soldiers.  This is an outrageous and cynical abuse of history and has no place in the Jewish State.

Israel cannot tolerate extremists who defy the law and democratic values.  It is time for all Israelis, religious and non-religious, settlers and non-settlers, to respect Israel's democratic institutions and to stand up against those who would use violence and intimidation.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.