Two monuments near Jordan Rift Valley settlements sprayed with slogans reading ´Stop Zionism´ and ´End the occupation´

A mere week before Israel marks Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day, two monuments near Jordan Rift Valley settlements were vandalized. The monuments were sprayed with slogans, and the names of the commemorated were covered. In addition, Palestinian flags were painted on the monument.

One of the vandalized monuments was dedicated to Salit Sheetrit who was murdered in a terrorist attack in 2001. The monument, near Mehola, was sprayed, and a Palestinian flag was painted over a part of the monument, an Israeli flag made from iron.

A second monument located near Petza´el, commemorating the names of IDF soldiers and civilians who were killed in the region, was sprayed with slogans reading "End the Occupation" and "Stop Zionism." The names of fallen IDF soldiers were sprayed with black paint and a Palestinian flag was painted on it.

The police said Thursday that it is likely that the same perpetrators are responsible for the acts.

Chairman of Jordan Rift Valley Regional Council David Alhiani said: "Only one week before we commemorate those who died for the country and those scum of people desecrate their memory and hurt families in the name of an agenda." T Alhiani did not reject the possibility that anarchist activists are behind the act. He mentioned the possibility that the vandalizing is linked to the recent incident in which Lt.-Col. Shalom Eisner struck a Danish pro-Palestinian protester during a confrontation.

Wednesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz ordered Wednesday that Eisner be relieved of his duties as deputy commander of the IDF´s Jordan Valley Brigade over "operational and ethical failures." Eisner said yesterday: "I´m physically and emotionally hurt and I have to recuperate. I have to reconsider my future in the IDF." (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 04/19/12)