Rabbi Yosef Chaim Blau shlita, Chief Rabi of Ashkelon, said that the teenagers who were behind the recent vandalism of an Ashkelon shul are most probably non Jews from the former Soviet Union.

"The state has brought in thousands of non-Jews, and this is the result", the rabbi said, and added that there had been yet another incident, that was not published, during which non-Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union desecrated a shul in the city and destroyed the Aron Kodesh. The vandals were apprehended and tried and are now serving prison time.

"Many of the immigrants are G-d fearing people, but still a large number of immigrants are non-Jews who are brought into the country in order to convert. The mass conversions, however, are not always reliable. Unfortunately, this is the result of bringing thousands of non-Jews into the country", the rabbi said.

Yesterday, 'Etrog' reported that police had arrested two teenagers, aged 16, on Shabbos night after they had broken into the synagogue on Yahadut Sefarad Street in Ashkelon. The youngsters had looted the tzedakah box and vandalized the shul beyond recognition. Channel 2 reported that the police officers were shocked to discover the Sifrei Torah totally destroyed, the windows shattered and the furniture completely smashed.
 
Police arrived at the shul on Shabbos night after receiving complaints about gunshots in the area. Police officers combed the area and found two teenagers hiding on the roof of the synagogue. They were immediately arrested and after an initial search, money was found in their pockets, apparently stolen from the tzedakah box.

As the police officers entered the synagogue, a horrific sight met their eyes: all furniture was destroyed beyond recognition, kedusha articles were strewn on the floor and the windows were shattered. Police believe that the teenagers did not fire inside the synagogue, and that the reported 'gunshots' were probably the noise caused during the vandalism.
The teenagers are currently being held in custody.

Chaim Blumfeld of the Ashkelon Police said that the teenagers "did not leave even one window intact", and that they had no apparent reason for their act.