Rome synagogue’s monument to slain Jewish child defaced

Unidentified individuals on Monday defaced a synagogue monument commemorating a two-year-old Jewish child who was murdered by terrorists in the city in 1982.

The perpetrators spray-painted the plaque commemorating Stefano Gaj Taché, who was murdered by Palestinian terrorists in an attack on the Great Synagogue of Rome. The plaque was affixed to the wall of another synagogue, Beth Michael.

The vandals also wrote anti-Israel slogans.

The incident drew sharp condemnations from Italian politicians, Jewish community leaders and Jewish groups abroad.

Victor Fadlun, the president of the Jewish Community of Rome, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that the incident was “part of a climate of intimidation” against local Jews, adding that “antisemitism has become a tool of political protest