Israeli police arrest two, including minor, for assaulting Christian cleric in Jerusalem’s Old City

JERUSALEM — Israeli police have apprehended two individuals, one of whom is a minor, on suspicion of verbally abusing and spitting at a Christian cleric near the Zion Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City.

According to police reports, witnesses alerted authorities to a group of youths near the Zion Gate engaging in derogatory behavior towards a passing cleric before fleeing the scene.

Utilizing surveillance footage from the monitoring center in the David District of Jerusalem, law enforcement successfully identified the two suspects responsible for the reprehensible act, as stated in an official police statement.

Following questioning, both suspects, one of whom is 17 years old, were placed under house arrest pending further investigation by the authorities.

This incident underscores an ongoing pattern of harassment faced by Christians in the Old City of Jerusalem, often perpetrated by Orthodox Jews. In recent months, similar incidents have resulted in arrests, including five individuals apprehended last October for spitting on individuals and churches.

In response to this latest incident, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem vehemently condemned the unwarranted and disgraceful attack on the cleric. The Patriarchate emphasized the imperative of prosecuting perpetrators of hate crimes to prevent such acts and ensure the safety and security of Christian clergy in the Holy Land.