PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A vandal sprayed red paint on a display of solidarity with Israel outside the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Old City.
Philadelphia police said it happened around 4:40 a.m. on Monday. Red paint covered a large sign of the Israeli flag that reads, “THE WEITZMAN STANDS WITH ISRAEL.”
The sign is displayed on the outside of the museum at the corner of Market Street and Independence Mall.
In a statement, Weitzman President and CEO Dan Tadmor said this incident was actually the second act of similar vandalism in two weeks.
“Appallingly, vandalizing Jewish institutions has become a daily occurrence in America,” he said. “The ADL reported over 9,000 cases of antisemitism just this past year. Unfortunately, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History has become part of that statistic.
“We will not be deterred from continuing to fulfill our mission.”
Tadmor said the museum had already planned to take down the Israeli flag banner to mark the two-year commemoration of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, replacing it with a large sign calling for the release of remaining hostages.
No arrests have been made, and police have not named any suspects. Investigators ask anyone with information to call the tip line 215-686-8477.