September 15, 2019

(JTA) — Flyers described as “anti-Semitic in nature” were posted on several Jewish institutions in Indianapolis.

The flyers were discovered on Friday morning, according to local reports.

The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council said in a statement that the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was notified of the incident and that it had opened an investigation. The police are classifying it as a “bias crime,” according to the statement.

The Jewish institutions opened as usual and police provided additional patrols, according to the statement.

“The Jewish community in Indianapolis has well-established and open lines of communication with the Office of Homeland Security, IMPD, and the Marion County Sheriff. Organizations remain vigilant and responsibe to all incidents regardless of severity,” the statement also said.

The statement and news report did not specify what about the flyers was anti-Semitic.

The JCRC said that it has “noted an increase in anti-Semitism in the greater Indianapolis area.”

In August, a swastika was drawn on the wall of a dorm room at the University of Indianapolis shared by twin Israeli sisters.

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The far-right Noam Party announced that it would pull out of Israel’s national elections after polls showed that it would not pass the electoral threshold.

The party, which has been polling well below the 3.25 percent needed to enter the Knesset, made the announcement on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s elections. It did not endorse another party or candidate.

Noam had been under pressure by Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud Party, and by right-wing religious parties to drop out amid accusations that votes cast for the party would be wasted.

The main area of focus for the party was against the LGBTQ movement, using the slogan “A Normal Nation in Our Own Land.” The party also opposes egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall. It has compared secular life and pluralistic Judaism to Nazi Germany, and has said that the Israel Defense Forces is weakened by having female soldiers.

The party’s votes could go to other religious parties, most notably the Jewish Power party or Otzma Yehudit, which is hovering near the electoral threshold and which also has been under pressure to quit the race.

The party reportedly will remain a movement and work to spread its message outside of government.