French Israel critic Hessel targeted as 'anti-Semite'

16 november 2012/Middle East Online http://www.middle-east-online.com/english (UK) Paris home of 95-year-old French resistance hero has been defaced by graffiti accusing him of being anti-Semitic probably for his best-selling book criticising Israel.

Paris - The Paris home of Stephane Hessel, a 95-year-old French resistance hero and concentration camp survivor, has been defaced by graffiti accusing him of being anti-Semitic, his family said Friday.   The words "Hessel anti-Semite" were daubed on the front of the building in large blue letters overnight in an act of vandalism police suspect was linked to the best-selling writer's criticism of Israel.   Hessel, who was formerly a diplomat, has enjoyed huge success with his 2010 publication "Indignez Vous!" (Time for Outrage!), a call for the French people to voice their indignation on issues ranging from the disparity between rich and poor to the environment.   "Indignez Vous", which has sold more than four million copies worldwide, also highlights the plight of the Palestinians, and Hessel has been a longstanding critic of Israeli military operations in the West Bank and Gaza, some of which he has characterised as war crimes.