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Catholic leaders in Israel call for crackdown graffiti attacks targeting Christians, Muslims Israeli Catholic leaders call for crackdown on anti-Christian, anti-Muslim graffiti
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM – Catholic leaders in Jerusalem are growing increasingly concerned that an apparent uptick in nationalistic hate crimes by Jewish extremists against Christian and Muslim holy sites and individuals could mar the visit of Pope Francis to the region later this month. JERUSALEM — Catholic leaders in Jerusalem are increasingly concerned that an apparent uptick in nationalistic hate crimes by Jewish extremists against Christian and Muslim holy sites and individuals could mar the visit of Pope Francis to the region later this month.
On Friday, for the second time in less than a week, anti-Christian graffiti denigrating Jesus was discovered spray-painted on a church in Jerusalem. It follows a similar attack last Monday at the Notre Dame Center, a complex in Jerusalem owned by the Vatican. The defacements comes after more than 20 major incidents in the past few months targeting both Christian and Muslim minority communities here.On Friday, for the second time in less than a week, anti-Christian graffiti denigrating Jesus was discovered spray-painted on a church in Jerusalem. It follows a similar attack last Monday at the Notre Dame Center, a complex in Jerusalem owned by the Vatican. The defacements comes after more than 20 major incidents in the past few months targeting both Christian and Muslim minority communities here.
While such crimes are not unusual – a monitoring group found that at least 32 religious buildings have been vandalized, fire-bombed or subjected to arson attempts in the past four years — the frequency of such incidents against people and property appears to have increased in recent weeks. While such crimes are not unusual — a monitoring group found that at least 32 religious buildings have been vandalized, fire-bombed or subjected to arson attempts in the past four years — the frequency of such incidents against people and property appears to have increased in recent weeks.
Additionally, the attacks, referred to here as “price tag” attacks due to the signature left behind by perpetrators, have spread from the disputed West Bank area, where tension between Jewish settlers and Arabs is constantly high and where the first such attack was recorded in 2011, into Israel proper. When they first started in 2011, the attacks, referred to as “price tag” attacks, were part of a campaign to extract retribution for actions against Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The idea was that anytime the Israel Defense Forces removed an illegal outpost or Palestinian militants attacked settlers, somebody would pay a price. Today, these attacks have spread into Israel proper and don’t always follow actions against Jewish settlements.
“We are very concerned about the repeated acts of hatred against Christians by the price tag groups,” the Rev. Jamal Khader, rector of Latin Patriarchate Seminary, said Friday. He estimated that about half the attacks involved churches or Christians.“We are very concerned about the repeated acts of hatred against Christians by the price tag groups,” the Rev. Jamal Khader, rector of Latin Patriarchate Seminary, said Friday. He estimated that about half the attacks involved churches or Christians.
“They are creating an atmosphere of hatred that is bad for everyone,” Khader said. “The pope is about to visit and we need to promote coexistence. I am not worried about his safety, Israel is an expert at security. But I am talking about creating the proper atmosphere to welcome the pope.”“They are creating an atmosphere of hatred that is bad for everyone,” Khader said. “The pope is about to visit and we need to promote coexistence. I am not worried about his safety, Israel is an expert at security. But I am talking about creating the proper atmosphere to welcome the pope.”
On Thursday, the Catholic Church released a statement calling on the authorities to take more action in tackling the problem. While most acts so far have focused on property, there is fear they could pave the way to more violent hate crimes. On Thursday, the Catholic Church released a statement calling on the authorities to take more action in tackling the problem. While most acts so far have focused on property, there is fear they could pave the way for more violent hate crimes.
Opinions vary about who is behind the crimes and whether it is a coordinated effort. Some point to radical members of the settler movement, mostly from the West Bank community of Yitzhar. A 2009 book published by rabbis there proclaimed that in some situations, killing non-Jews is permissible under Jewish law. Others, including the police, believe that it is more likely bored youths with nationalistic motives sporadically carrying out acts of vandalism.Opinions vary about who is behind the crimes and whether it is a coordinated effort. Some point to radical members of the settler movement, mostly from the West Bank community of Yitzhar. A 2009 book published by rabbis there proclaimed that in some situations, killing non-Jews is permissible under Jewish law. Others, including the police, believe that it is more likely bored youths with nationalistic motives sporadically carrying out acts of vandalism.
Either way, Israeli law enforcement said this week it was stepping up police patrols in Jerusalem and in the north of the country, where the Muslim population has largely been targeted.Either way, Israeli law enforcement said this week it was stepping up police patrols in Jerusalem and in the north of the country, where the Muslim population has largely been targeted.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Friday that a number of arrests were made this week, including that of a 22-year-old from the town of Yokneam inside Israel, who admitted to carrying out 10 acts of vandalism against Arabs. Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Friday that a number of arrests were made this week, including that of a 22-year-old from the town of Yokneam, who admitted to carrying out 10 acts of vandalism against Arabs.
On Wednesday, Justice Minister Tzippi Livni and Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich met with Israel’s attorney general and law enforcement officials to discuss legislation that would label such hate crimes as terrorism. On Wednesday, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch met with Israel’s attorney general and law enforcement officials to discuss legislation that would label such hate crimes as terrorism.
But activists – both Jewish and non-Jewish – say it’s not enough. But activists — both Jewish and non-Jewish — say it’s not enough.
A coalition of 40 Jewish and interreligious groups known as Tag Meir (Spreading the Light) is planning a large demonstration Sunday outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem. Their message: Wake up — it’s time for the Jewish state to deal with this. A coalition of 40 Jewish and interreligious groups known as Tag Meir (“spreading the light”) is planning a large demonstration Sunday outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem. Their message: Wake up — it’s time for the Jewish state to deal with this.
“Netanyahu keeps calling on Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Well, we want Netanyahu to recognize a Jewish state too, and we believe that a Jewish state does not act like this,” said Tag Meir Chairman Gadi Gvaryahu.“Netanyahu keeps calling on Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Well, we want Netanyahu to recognize a Jewish state too, and we believe that a Jewish state does not act like this,” said Tag Meir Chairman Gadi Gvaryahu.
“As a rabbi, I would say this a complete distortion of Judaism,” said Rabbi Ron Kronish, director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel. “I hope that people from every spectrum of Jewish life in Israel and abroad will denounce these acts in no uncertain terms so that the wide world understands this is not Judaism, it’s a radical fringe.”“As a rabbi, I would say this a complete distortion of Judaism,” said Rabbi Ron Kronish, director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel. “I hope that people from every spectrum of Jewish life in Israel and abroad will denounce these acts in no uncertain terms so that the wide world understands this is not Judaism, it’s a radical fringe.”