German Company Investigates, Condemns ‘F—k Israel’ Notes Sent in Shipment to Longtime Israeli Partners
by Shiryn Ghermezian
A protester wrapped in an Israeli flag at a rally against antisemitism at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Photo: Reuters/Lisi Niesner
A German roofing company said this week it was investigating how notes that read “F—k Israel” were included inside a shipment of parts sent to one of its longtime partners in Israel.
Marcus Sander, the managing director of the German company Roto Frank FTT GmbH, called the offensive notes “unacceptable and highly condemnable” in a statement given to Israeli blogger Alon David, as reported by German-language media on Tuesday.
“This incident has deeply shaken us at Roto Frank Fenster- und Türtechnologie GmbH. Such actions are deeply contrary to our values and principles,” he said. “We take this incident very seriously and have immediately initiated internal and external measures and investigations to clarify the background. Together with the relevant authorities, we will do everything we can to identify those responsible and ensure that appropriate consequences follow. However, due to the complexity of the international flows of goods and supplies, some time is needed for this.”
He additionally noted that the “F—k Israel” stickers were not produced by the company but were “neutral stickers available on the market.” The company, based in Leinfelden-Echterdingen near Stuttgart, reportedly employs roughly 5,000 people and has never been involved in an antisemitic incident before.
Israeli brothers Haim and Benny Briskin, who own a window company located in Sha’ar Binyamin in the West Bank, said several notes that read “F–k Israel” were included inside a shipment of parts they received from the Roto Frank FTT GmbH company.
“We have been working with the Germans for 15 years and there has never been anything like this,” the Briskin brothers said, as reported originally by Ynet. “We were completely shocked when we opened the box and saw the notes with profanity.”
The Briskins sent a letter of complaint to their German supplier, expressing their “deep concern and disappointment’ regarding the incident.
“For the past 15 years, we have enjoyed a strong partnership characterized by mutual respect and professionalism,” the Briskin brothers reportedly wrote. “It is shocking and unacceptable to receive antisemitic and hateful material against us, especially from Germany. We don’t know how we can trust your materials now. Someone could damage them to harm us.”
They also urged their supplier to investigate the incident and take action against whoever was responsible.
