Vandalism rife in southern Israeli cemeteries
Residents of Bnei Shimon Regional Council say graves of fallen soldiers desecrated, parties and picnics held in cemeteries in the area.
Over the past two months, dozens of tombstones were vandalized by unknown perpetrators, including the grave of First Sergeant Dan Snir in Kibbutz Beit Kama.
"Those who can't respect the dead, don't know how to respect the living," said Mirta Snir, the mother of the fallen soldier who was killed four years ago. She decried the police's powerlessness in stopping these acts of vandalism.
"The situation is very frustrating. I don't understand what kind of people do something like that," said Sigal Moran, the head of the Bnei Shimon Regional Council.
Moran said she believed the vandalism is rooted in nationalistic motives.
"The grave that was desecrated belongs to a soldier, but the graves around it were untouched. Even though the police are doing their best, we feel helpless facing this phenomenon. It seems crazy to me, but we might not have a choice but to protect our cemeteries," she said.
Ariela Perlman, who lives in the area, described in a post on Facebook "parties with eating and drinking at the cemetery."
"Cars are washed with water from the cemetery and last night they surpassed themselves and shattered the gravestone of a fallen soldier from the kibbutz, a child loved by all. It's time to do something about this," she wrote.
Kibbutz Mishmar HaNegev's cemetery has also suffered frequent vandalism, and during the Sukkot holiday 35 graves were desecrated and 5 burned.
"They came, burned, destroyed and uprooted the graves. They did a crazy job there," said the head of the Kibbutz Council Hadas Peleg, whose mother's grave was among the graves vandalized.
"They are simply celebrating at our cemetery. For years people have been using the place as a playground. They have picnics there and one time they even stole the gate of the cemetery, " she added.
Rahat station commander, Chief Superintendent Shlomi Ben-Shushan, noted that three minors from Rahat were arrested last April on suspicion they vandalized graves at the Mishmar HaNegev Cemetery. They admitted to the incidence and charges were brought against them.
"The police take these incidences very seriously, that gravely hurt the feelings of the family. An investigation is taking place that is investing considerable resources to apprehend the suspects," he added.
