Jabalpur Jewish Cemetery Fight Draws Israeli Appeal for Help

Indian Jewish representatives in Israel asked Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, the Chief Rabbinate, the Foreign Ministry and Israeli and Indian missions to intervene after reports that Jabalpur's historic Jewish cemetery was damaged in a land-grab dispute. The published accounts say the cemetery is the only known Jewish burial ground in the Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh region, holds more than 100 graves, and served a Bene Israel community that mostly made aliyah after Indian independence. Community representatives say gravestones were damaged, walls breached and the gate stolen, while local courts had recognized the Jewish claim and the dispute continues on appeal. Their appeal asks for a joint investigation, protection of the site and public updates through lawful diplomatic channels.