The hateful depiction by Walter Hermann is displayed in Cologne's Cathedral Square. Irish Spat over Israeli Visit
The Republic of Ireland’s foreign minister has criticised a town council’s decision to remove a page from its visitors’ book after it was signed by the Israeli ambassador. A visit by Zion Evrony to Carrickmacross, near the border with Northern Ireland, was met with protests from local councillors, who proposed that the Israeli ambassador’s entry in the book be erased. Foreign minister Micheál Martin said he regretted the move, adding that while he shares the “deep concerns” many Irish have about Israeli policy, states needed to treat each other with “civility and respect.”
Yiddish Census Forms ‘Patronising’
Members of the ultra-Orthodox community in London have described plans to translate the next UK census questionnaire into Yiddish as “patronising and incorrect,” saying they would find a Hebrew version more useful. Jewish leaders in Stamford Hill, a district in north London with a large Charedi population, said that only a few were able to fill in census forms in Yiddish only, adding that the large number of Israelis marrying into the community had created a demand for Hebrew translations as many cannot read or write in English. Statistics suggest the Stamford Hill Jewish community is historically underrepresented in censuses, the next of which will take place in 2011.
Muslim Headscarf Plans Axed, Council Explains in 51-Word Sentence
Proposals to build a giant Muslim headscarf in the heart of the historic Jewish district of London have been scrapped, following widespread uproar. The “hijab gates,” planned as part of a cultural project in the city’s East End, were due to appear on Brick Lane, one of the streets most closely associated with the area’s Jewish heritage. Local Jewish leaders had labelled the plans thoughtless and inappropriate. In an attempt to clarify the situation, the council released a statement saying: “Due to the large amount of public interest shown over the proposed Brick Lane Arches, the planning applications which were due to be heard by the Development Committee on March 4 have been withdrawn to allow time to build upon the extensive community engagement and consultation the council has already done.”
Hungarian Deniers Could Spend 3 Years Behind Bars
Holocaust deniers in Hungary could be jailed for up to three years under a new bill passed by the national parliament, but a civil liberties group claims the move infringes upon freedom of speech. Previous attempts to ban Shoah deniers in the eastern European country have failed for the same reason, while efforts to change the constitution to make the bill legal have also been unsuccessful. The bill was submitted by the prime ministerial candidate of the ruling Socialist Party.
Row over German Anti-Israel Display
A non-Jewish theater director has announced plans to sue the exhibitor of a display in the heart of the German city of Cologne that shows a Jew cutting up a Palestinian child with a knife and fork. Gerd Buurmann’s move comes after the city’s public prosecutor ruled the exhibition does not incite hatred, following a complaint filed by Buurmann himself. Known as the Cologne Wailing Wall, the exhibition by Walter Herrmann is located on Cathedral Square, one of the central points in the city.
Israeli Author Wins French Prize
Israeli author Yoram Kaniuk has been awarded the 2010 France-Israel Foundation award for his novel The Last Jew, which was published in 2006. The Tel Aviv-born writer also translated the work into French. The novel follows the life of a Jew who returns from the Second World War. | 
