Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mentioned his authorities wouldn’t tolerate “derogatory conduct” in opposition to folks for his or her faith, after Jewish residents have been filmed spitting at Christian pilgrims.
“Israel is completely dedicated to safeguard the sacred proper of worship and pilgrimage to the holy websites of all faiths,” the PM wrote on X (previously Twitter). “I strongly condemn any try to intimidate worshippers, and I’m dedicated to taking fast and decisive motion in opposition to it.”
Although Netanyahu didn’t point out any specific incident, the assertion got here after a video surfaced on-line exhibiting ultra-Orthodox Jews, together with youngsters, spitting at Christians in Jerusalem’s Previous Metropolis earlier this week. The episode passed off throughout celebrations for the Jewish vacation of Sukkot, in addition to the Feast of Tabernacles, a yearly spiritual occasion that pulls Christian pilgrims to Israel.
קבוצה של צליינים יוצאת עם הצלב לרחוב שער האריות ונתקלת בקבוצה של מתפללים יהודים עם 4 המינים ואז מתחילות היריקות. ספרתי לפחות 7 בכמה שניות. pic.twitter.com/YjqaknATLw
— نير حسون Nir Hasson ניר חסון (@nirhasson) October 2, 2023
Whereas the video rapidly sparked controversy, an Orthodox activist and a former spokesman for Israel’s hard-right Otzma Yehudit social gathering, Elisha Yered, defended the follow of “spitting close to church buildings or monasteries,” calling it an “historic Jewish custom.” He added that “we now have forgotten what Christianity is,” occurring to reference quite a few historic atrocities carried out in opposition to the Jews.
On Wednesday, Israeli police introduced that that they had arrested 5 folks suspected of spitting at Christians. “Sadly, we witness the continued disgraceful acts of hatred in direction of Christians within the Previous Metropolis of Jerusalem, primarily by spitting by extremists,” Jerusalem district police commander Doron Turgeman mentioned.
Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben Gvir additionally condemned the spitting on Christians, however argued that it was “not a felony case.”
“I believe we have to act on it by instruction and schooling. Not every little thing justifies an arrest,” Ben Gvir, who can also be a member of the spiritual Jewish Otzma Yehudit social gathering, mentioned.
