The war in Israel also has an impact on the city of Mozart and its Jewish residents. They criticize security measures that are too weak.
“The police should not only protect our synagogue during prayer times. My concern is that politicians in Salzburg show solidarity and that there is property protection even during our office hours,” says Elie Rosen. The president of the Jewish Community of Salzburg is worried. “Security measures are not pleasant, but I don’t want to have to later be accused of not doing enough,” he criticizes. Although ÖVP Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced increased controls for all Jewish institutions in Austria at the weekend, patrols are being carried out to Rosen’s liking a few police officers in front of the synagogue in the state capital. No police were visible during the “Krone” visit to the site. The Ministry promises an increased police presence. However, the Interior Ministry replies that immediately after the attack by the terrorist organization Hamas on the Israeli population, there was an “increased police presence[n] “Monitoring of potentially endangered facilities”. But the president of the Israelite Community was not informed of any further security measures for the synagogue in Salzburg. Why? Because, according to the Interior Ministry, the transfer of information would simply take a while. Those affected, including Rosen, would first be contacted by the constitutional protection authorities. That means: There is already increased protection around the synagogue. However, a permanent police presence is not yet planned. Anti-Semite attacked Elie Rosen with a wooden bat. For the Jewish believers in Salzburg, protecting people and property is nothing new. In addition to the measures already mentioned during prayer times, security personnel and sniffer dogs are also needed at cultural events, such as the recent Jewish concert. “But there are too few security precautions on the part of the police there either,” criticizes Rosen, who himself has already been exposed to the hatred of an anti-Semite. In August 2020, a Syrian attacked him with a wooden bat in Graz. Rosen was able to escape into his car, but the attacker hit the vehicle with the object. 14 months later, the attacker was sentenced to three years in prison.
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