Star of David drawn on path outside Izz Café

THE owner of a Palestinian café in Cork has said that they are not intimidated by a Star of David, which was scraped into the footpath outside the premises.

Izzedine and wife Eman Alkarajeh’s own Izz Café in the city centre, and regularly fundraise for Palestine in light of the ongoing conflict.

The Star of David was scraped into the footpath outside the cafe a fortnight ago, but Izz told The Echo that it was “a minor thing” compared to what is going on in his homeland.

He said: “It has been there for two weeks and we were never intimidated by it. They are literally inside Gazans’ houses cooking and celebrating the destruction of houses and lives. Their flag on the footpath means nothing for us. We can simply take in a positive way because we love prophet David and all other prophets.”

The co-chairperson of the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Martin Shiel, said that the organisation is “perturbed and saddened by the act of vandalism at the premises of Izz Café”.

He told The Echo: “The pavement inscription of the Star of David was clearly intended as a repudiation of the solidarity shown by the proprietors and staff of Izz Café with the people of Gaza under Israeli bombardment.

“The Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign also deplores the employment of the Star of David in an act of vandalism, given that it symbolises Judaism as a whole ... [the campaign] wholly condemns anti-semitism.”

The owner of Three Little Piggies café nearby, Paul Walsh, said on The Opinion Line on Cork’s 96FM: “Izz Café is a fantastic business.

“They have had many fundraising events that raised thousands of euros for Palestine food and medical aid and they long for peace and a two-state solution.

“I’m disgusted and would love to meet the person who put it there.”