The Jewish Community in North Macedonia has announced that an attempted arson attack was carried out against its building and synagogue in Skopje.
In a statement, the community strongly condemned the incident and called on authorities to fully investigate the case and ensure consistent enforcement of the law. It also appealed to society to prevent hatred, fear, and ignorance from overshadowing reason, humanity, and justice.
“Today, April 12, for the first time in modern history, an attempt was made to set fire to the Jewish Community building and the synagogue. This act is not only an attack on a religious building, but a deeply disturbing assault on the fundamental values of a civilized society – coexistence, dignity, and mutual respect,” the statement said.
The community stressed that North Macedonia’s Jewish population, one of the smallest yet historically deeply rooted communities in the region, has long contributed to peace, solidarity, and unity.
It also expressed concern over a rise in hate speech and intolerance, warning against the dangerous association of Jews with geopolitical developments in the Middle East, which it said fuels antisemitism.
The statement urged religious leaders, institutions, and citizens to issue a unified condemnation of the attack, and called on authorities to fully clarify the case and apply the law.
