Netanyahu Slams Jews Spitting At Christians In Hebrew

Prominent Jewish religious figures and Israeli government ministers have strongly condemned the increasing incidents of Jews spitting on Christian worshippers in Jerusalem, as reported by Noa Shpigel, Aaron Rabinowitz, and Nir Hasson for Haaretz.

Netanyahu's condemnations come in response to a series of incidents in which Jews were caught spitting on or near Christian worshippers in Jerusalem's Old City. I Photo: U.S. Department of State Flickr

These condemnations come in response to a series of incidents in which Jews were caught spitting on or near Christian worshippers in Jerusalem's Old City, some of which were captured on film on Sunday and Monday.

These incidents provide further evidence of the growing prevalence of such attacks. Thousands of Jews participated in events and prayers for the Sukkot holiday in recent days, during which many of these spitting incidents occurred.

Most of those caught in the act were Jewish youths who spat on church buildings or at Christian worshippers they encountered.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement in English on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Israel is fully committed to safeguarding the sacred right of worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all faiths. I strongly condemn any attempt to intimidate worshippers, and I am committed to taking immediate and decisive action against it."

In a follow-up tweet, Netanyahu stated that "derogatory conduct towards worshippers is sacrilege and is simply unacceptable. Any form of hostility towards individuals engaged in worship will not be tolerated."

Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel, David Lau, also responded, saying, "I strongly condemn harming any person or religious leader," and added that such "abhorrent" behavior "must not, under any circumstances, be associated with Jewish halakha (Jewish law)."

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