Merchant has store vandalized in Bahia because she is Jewish; Conib condemns

Trader Herta Breslauer had her store in Arraial d’Ajuda (Bahia) vandalized by a woman who shouted anti-Semitic attacks during the event. The video showing scenes of the attack went viral on the internet and was shared by several political and entertainment personalities.

According to Herta, who is Jewish, the attacker entered her establishment and began destroying her merchandise, justifying the attack with anti-Semitic insults. A man appears in the video trying to restrain the woman while Herta films the scene and defends herself from the insults.

The Arraial d’Ajuda Territorial Police Station took over the investigation of the case after the trader registered a police report. In the police investigation, crimes of racism, threats, damage and bodily injury will be investigated. The attacker had not yet been located until Saturday night (3). In the video, you can hear her addressing Herta Breslauer with the phrase: “Murderer, child killer, Zionist, damn Zionist, I’m going to get you!”

The Israeli Confederation of Brazil (Conib) and the Israeli Society of Bahia released a joint note condemning the act. “Conib and the Sociedade Israelita da Bahia denounce the disgusting aggression against a Jewish shopkeeper in Arraial d’Ajuda, Bahia, for the simple fact that she is Jewish. A cowardly, anti-Semitic aggression, which must be investigated as a hate crime and followed its due legal process. Conib has been asking our leaders for moderation and balance so as not to import the tragic conflict underway in the Middle East. Anti-Semitism must be condemned by everyone, and its explosion in recent months here in Brazil and around the world is a consequence of hateful and distorted views about Israel and Jews expressed by personalities and distributed through social media. This needs to end to avoid even more serious consequences.”