Sign equating Israeli flag and Nazi flag in Raleigh comes during spike in antisemitism

The Israel-Hamas war has led to an increase in antisemitism across the country.

New numbers from the Anti-Defamation League show 312 reported cases against Jews, that's up 388 percent since this time last year.

A WRAL viewer sent us an image from a recent rally calling for the release of Hamas hostages. It shows a counter-protester holding up a sign with a swastika.

That photo was taken across from the rally in Bicentennial Plaza. The person who shared that photo with us took part in that rally to show support for Israel.

She didn't want to talk on-camera, saying she's worried about her family's safety after seeing that Nazi flag.

The same day Jewish leaders in Raleigh rallied for the safe return of hostages held by Hamas, a counter-protester appeared on a sidewalk holding this sign. It equates the Israeli flag with the Nazi flag.

"I haven’t seen a lot of that. I saw a sign that compared Netanyahu to Hitler, which I agree with," said Benny Koval, who joins the marches and rallies in Raleigh calling for a free Palestine.

"I see occupation as terrorism," Koval said. "I see colonialism as terrorism."

Koval was asked about the use of swastikas and Nazi imagery that have appeared in protests against Israel.

"I think the way Zionists are weaponizing the Holocaust and the mass suffering of Jews all over the world is antisemitic, because they’re doing it to further the genocide of another people," Koval said.

Since the attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7, the Anti-Defamation League has tracked a 388 percent increase in antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents across the U.S., including six such incidents in North Carolina.

Just this weekend, Christian Fellowship Church in Elm City discovered its Israeli flag torn down and ripped.

This security camera footage shows the vandal discard the flag in a ditch and walk away.

"We haven’t had any reason to feel like we’re in danger here in our congregation, but there’s a natural fear because of this rise and fomenting of hate," said Lucy Dinner, senior rabbi at Temple Beth Or in Raleigh. "The symbols that are showing up at some of the rallies are clearly antisemitic symbols. They’re not anti-Zionist. They’re antisemitic."

With vandalism and protests verging on violence, the president of Jewish Heritage NC has this message for the community.

"I think we just all have an obligation to confront extremism wherever we might see it," Leonard Rogoff, Jewish Heritage NC President.

So far in 2023, there have been three cases of antisemitic flyers found by Raleigh police and one case of a bomb threat. In 2022, there were four incidents in which antisemitic flyers were found.