Swiss Jewish groups denounce ‘anti-Semitic’ poster

Geneve Non Conforme promotes ‘Save Switzerland’ day with poster depicting doll wrapped in Israeli flag, wearing yarmulke, with arrow through its head.

By JEREMY SHARON
save switzerland anti-semitic poser_311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
save switzerland anti-semitic poser_311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
A far-right Swiss group called Geneve Non Conforme has advertised a national “Save Switzerland” day with a poster depicting a doll wrapped in an Israeli flag, wearing a yarmulke, bearing peyot (sidelocks), and lying on its back with an arrow through its head.
Although the message was posted on June 17, it only come to the attention of Jewish groups late last week. Johanne Gurfinkiel of the Swiss Jewish rights group CICAD said that the image “defines the deep anti-Semitic hate” of the leaders of the movement, adding that the poster is “a call to murder, pure and simple.”
GNC defines itself as an anti-immigration, anti-globalization cultural association, but denies that it is anti- Semitic.
Following CICAD’s complaint, the poster was altered, and the yarmulke and sidelocks removed.
A statement on the group’s website stated that the doll in the poster was supposed to represent “Israeli extremism (Zionism)” and “was not meant as an attack against Jews.”
“The message is just the same,” said Gurfinkiel in response, “The threat is just as dangerous.”
The Simon Wiesenthal Center called on the Swiss authorities to take action against GNC.
“Showing an Israel figure with an arrow through its head is not about political expression, but intimidation and hate,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
“There are young religious Jews in Switzerland, who along with their families, could be targeted by this threat.”