Dozens of Christian graves have been discovered defaced and capped in a historic Jerusalem cemetery, and Israeli police say they’ve arrested two individuals linked to the crime.
Cops have been despatched to the Protestant cemetery on Jerusalem’s Mount Zion to analyze the crime at a website that’s related in Christian custom with the Final Supper which Jesus shared together with his disciples the night time earlier than his crucifixion and in addition sacred for Jews and Muslims.
On the scene, they discovered about 30 Christian gravestones that had been toppled and vandalized.
Extensively shared safety digital camera footage Sunday confirmed two younger males — each sporting a Jewish skullcap and tzitzit, the knotted ritual fringe worn by observant Jews — burst into the cemetery, toppling stone crosses and smashing and trampling gravestones, leaving a path of particles and damaged gravestones.
BLINKEN REMINDS ISRAEL OF BIDEN’S ADMINISTRATOR COMMITTED TO “TWO-STATE SOLUTION” AFTER NETANYAHU’S APPOINTMENT
Hosam Naoum, a Palestinian Anglican bishop, stops the place vandals desecrated greater than 30 graves in a historic Protestant cemetery on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, Wednesday, January 4, 2023.
(. (AP Picture/ Mahmoud Illean))
The Israeli Overseas Ministry referred to as the assault an “immoral act” and “an affront to faith”. Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem Hosam Naoum referred to as it a “clear hate crime”. The British consulate stated it was solely the most recent in a collection of assaults on the Christian neighborhood within the holy metropolis of Jerusalem.
Among the many destroyed graves was one containing a Nineteenth-century bust of Samuel Gobat, the second Protestant bishop of Jerusalem who died in 1879, the Episcopal diocese stated. The graves of three law enforcement officials, British nationals serving within the police drive of what was then British-ruled Palestine, had been additionally vandalised.
The diocese has warned that the desecration of the cemetery needs to be seen as an ominous warning towards “hatred towards Christians”.
FIGHT FOR JERUSALEM’S SACRED TEMPLE MOUNT SITE: WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO JEWS, MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS?
Hosam Naoum, a Palestinian Anglican bishop, touches a broken grave the place vandals desecrated greater than 30 graves in a historic Protestant cemetery on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, Wednesday, January 4, 2023.
((AP Picture/Mahmoud Illean))
Chief Superintendent Assaf Harel stated two individuals had been arrested for the crime and hairtez reported that the 2 suspects are 18 and 14 years outdated.
“Any injury to spiritual establishments and websites is critical and damages the distinctive and delicate life that exists for members of all religions within the metropolis,” the Israeli Overseas Ministry stated. he tweeted on Friday. “We now have an unwavering dedication to sustaining safety and order, in addition to an uncompromising and decided combat towards lawbreakers wherever they’re.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
A gravestone is topped the place vandals desecrated greater than 30 graves in a historic Protestant cemetery on Jerusalem’s Mount Zion in Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis, Wednesday, January 4, 2023.
((AP Picture/Mahmoud Illean))
Israel’s Christian inhabitants grew by 2 % in 2021, to a complete of 185,000, which is 1.9 % of Israel’s complete inhabitants, the Instances of Israel reported.
About 70% of Christians dwell within the northern a part of the nation in cities comparable to Nazareth and Haifa, whereas round 13,000 name Jerusalem dwelling.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
