Israeli Police/Handout
Israeli police released a video on Wednesday of an incident in which documents were allegedly spat at at the entrance to a church in Jerusalem’s Old City. In the video provided, the faces have been blurred by Israeli police.
Jerusalem
CNN
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Israeli police arrested five people on Wednesday on suspicion of spitting on people. Christians or Church They made the announcement following a disturbance the previous day in which an Orthodox Jew spat on a Christian pilgrim in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Police said four of the suspects were arrested in Wednesday’s incident and one was arrested in an incident earlier this week. Four are adults and one is a minor.
Israeli police told CNN that one of the men was arrested on suspicion of assault and the other four on suspicion of unlawful disorderly conduct. One person charged with assault was accused of spitting at someone, and the other was accused of spitting at someone, police said, citing different charges.
One of the arrests is in connection with Monday’s viral video of an ultra-Orthodox Jew carrying a cross and spitting on a Christian pilgrim who emerged from a flagellated church. old Townsaid the police.
Father Mateo, Priest old TownHe told CNN on Wednesday that there were sometimes 10 incidents of spitting a day near his riverside monastery. Via Dolorosathe path that Christians believe Jesus walked leading up to his crucifixion, people call it the “unholy place.”
The priest said that while such incidents are not a problem for him, they are not a problem for those who spew, saying, “Because when people grow up hating and despising others, it’s really, really sad for them.” That’s why.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement Tuesday saying he “strongly condemns any attempt to harm worshipers.”
“Israel is committed to protecting the sacred right of all religions to freedom of worship and pilgrimage to holy sites,” he said, pledging to “take urgent action against such acts.” . Aggressive acts against worshipers are sacrilegious and cannot be tolerated. ”
On Wednesday, Israeli police announced the creation of a special investigation team, expanded overt and covert operations, and consideration of imposing fines.
The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said spitting is part of a broader problem that can lead to physical violence.
“The act of spitting at non-Jews reflects the prevalence of extremism in Israeli society, especially among Jews.” radical settlerAnd it is a display of behavior that starts with spitting and ends with beatings and killings,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Jerusalem Police District Commander Doron Tajman said the police will not tolerate “expressions of hatred against anyone, whether Jews, Muslims or Christians, in the Old City or elsewhere in Jerusalem.” said.
Regarding “extremist spitting,” Tajman said, “Those who engage in such acts have serious problems, primarily in terms of their education, worldview, and respect for others.”
He said many of the spitters were children and called for “significant and immediate involvement of educational, religious and parental authorities…” [to] Make it clear that these behaviors are prohibited, unacceptable, and shameful. ”
On Tuesday, Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau denounced the attack, calling it “harmful to every person and every religious leader.” These immoral phenomena certainly have nothing to do with Jewish law. ”
