NY SYNOGOGUE OF IRAN HOLOCAUST DENIAL CONFERENCE ATTENDEES BURNED

Neturei Karta synagogue burned (JTA)
A suspicious fire destroyed the synagogue and residence of a senior rabbi of a Jewish group that angered many Jews by attended a Holocaust denial conference in Iran. No one was injured in the blaze Sunday night at Yeshivas Bais Yehudi in Monsey, N.Y. Local police and fire investigators said the fire was deemed suspicious because Neturei Karta, the anti-Zionist, fervently Orthodox group has been the target of threats, a local newspaper reported on its Web site. Neturei Karta members attended an Iran-sponsored Holocaust denial conference in December. Police would not confirm with The Associated Press whether the blaze was considered suspicious. Rabbi Yisroel Dovid of Neturei Karta said that the group suspects arson because of previous threats. "There's no question that the issue is to stifle the opposition to Zionism," he told AP by telephone early Monday morning.