Israeli Settler Spits on Entrance of St. James’ Monastery in Jerusalem

An Israeli settler spat on the entrance of St. James’ Monastery in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City, according to a statement from the Jerusalem Governorate. The incident was captured in a video shared by the governorate, which highlighted a pattern of repeated attacks on churches, monasteries, and Christian clergy in the area. These attacks include spitting, insults, physical assaults, and vandalism.

The Governorate noted that Israeli authorities have placed guards on the church due to the frequency of such incidents. However, the spitting continued, described as a habit and cultural norm within a community. The video shows two Israelis spitting on the church entrance, underscoring the persistent nature of these acts.

This incident follows a meeting between Palestinian Foreign Minister Faris Shawein and a delegation from the “Churches for Peace in the Middle East” organization. During the meeting, both sides discussed the escalating settler violence against Christians, with Shawein noting the deterioration of conditions in the West Bank and the protection of such violence by Israeli military forces.

Shawein also addressed the challenges facing the Christian presence in Palestine, emphasizing the significant decline in the number of Christians due to difficult living conditions. The delegation from “Churches for Peace in the Middle East” expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and concern over the challenges and decline in the Christian community’s numbers in the Holy Land.

On August 11, the Presidential High Committee for Monitoring Church Affairs in Palestine issued a statement warning that Israeli attacks on Christian communities threaten their existence. The committee’s concerns align with the broader narrative of increasing hostility toward religious institutions and individuals in the region.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)