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Israeli police on Thursday arrested an American vacationer after he allegedly knocked down and broke a statue of Jesus in a church in Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis.
Pictures on social media confirmed the statue laying horizontally on the ground after apparently being pulled down from a stand on the church. The incident occurred within the Church of the Flagellation, which is situated on the Through Dolorosa, the route believed to have been walked by Jesus to his crucifixion.
Police stated they made the arrest with the help of a church safety guard. Video on social media confirmed a person sitting atop the alleged vandal who's heard saying “you may’t have idols in Jerusalem, that is the holy metropolis.”
Police stated the person’s psychological well being was being assessed. The American Embassy declined to remark.
The incident got here as tensions run excessive in Jerusalem and the area following a bloody week. An Israeli navy raid within the West Financial institution killed 10 Palestinians, largely militants but additionally a 61-year-old girl. A Palestinian capturing assault exterior a synagogue in east Jerusalem killed seven folks, together with a 14-year-old.
The unrest comes within the first weeks of Israel’s new, far-right authorities, a few of whose ultranationalist, spiritual members have used inflammatory, anti-Arab rhetoric.
In a press release, the Custodia Terrae Sanctae, the Catholic Church’s custodians of holy websites within the Holy Land, stated “this hate crime joins a listing of assaults all of which focused the Christian neighborhood in Israel prior to now month.”
“It isn't a coincidence that the violent dialogue in Israeli society is translated additionally into these grave acts,” it stated, calling on Israeli regulation enforcement to take motion to halt such incidents.
Father Nikodemus Schnabel of the Dormition Abbey simply exterior the Outdated Metropolis linked the incident to the federal government’s character.
“Welcome to the brand new Christian-hating Israel, inspired and supported by the present authorities!” he tweeted.
Police stated they view harm to spiritual establishments as critical.
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