Christian Cemetery in Israel Vandalized, Crosses Destroyed
A Christian cemetery in Israel was vandalized by unknown individuals, leaving crosses and grave sites toppled.
Six tombstones in the Beit Jimal monastery's cemetery were defiled by unknown vandals. The Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem released a statement condemning the act and highlighted the fact that similar incidents have happened in the past few years, according to Church Militant.
On Saturday, the Latin Patriarchate in the city urged authorities to apprehend those responsible for the desecration of the holy site, the Times of Israel reports. However, Israeli police have chalked it down to mere local vandalism. Such "price tag attacks" are a form of protest against the Israeli army and are often directed at Christians, left-wing Arab-Israelis and Israeli Jews, and Palestinians, the report explains.
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"We are not only concerned about what happened in Beit Jamal," Wadie Abu Nassar, the advisor to the Catholic Bishops of the Holy Land, said. "There is a vast majority of similar incidents, which remain unsolved."
In June 2015, unknown attackers burned down the 1,500-year-old Tabgha Church of the Loaves and Fishes. The assailants also spray-painted the words "False idols will be smashed" on the ancient church. In February of the same year, unknown individuals defaced and torched a Greek Orthodox seminary in Jerusalem. They also wrote blasphemous phrases on the establishment, the report details.
In 2014, authorities detained a 21-year-old Jewish man for destroying a cross and several statues in the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem. The Monastery of the Cross was not spared from such acts in 2012, as assailants vandalized it and wrote blasphemous statements against Christ on its walls.
The attacks on holy sites have escalated starting last year after Israeli-Palestinian peace talks failed.
The Beit Jamal monastery, which is located outside the town of Beit Shemesh, is being run by the Salesian order. The monastery is also known for its good ties with Israelis who purchase ceramics from the site.
