The perpetrators of the attack against the church, a place frequented by pilgrims from all over the world, would be two Jewish extremists wearing “yarmulke” and “tzitzit”. The attackers tried to hit the bishop who was celebrating the service and injured a priest. The fears of the Christian community in the face of Holy Week and Easter.
Jerusalem () – The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Primate Theophilus III, together with the synod, all the clergy and the faithful, “condemn the heinous terrorist attack” perpetrated by “two Israeli extremists” yesterday morning during the Sunday liturgy . This is how the leaders of the Christian community of the Holy Land expressed themselves in a note, when commenting on the attack against the Church of the Sepulcher of Mary, one of the most important places of worship for the Orthodox, located opposite the Gethsemane church. The perpetrators of this “heinous crime” -committed during “the Lenten season” that prepares for Easter- “attempted to hurt Archbishop Joachim” while he was celebrating the office and “one of the priests”, the statement continues.
For Christian leaders, the attacks are a natural consequence of the escalation of hate speech and incitement to violence in Israel, a growing phenomenon among the leadership that ends up spilling over into society. The targets of the attacks are Christians, but Muslims are also affected by this continuous spiral of hatred, provocation, violation of the status quo and a strategy of tension that threatens to lead to an open conflict.
Local sources report that two Jewish radicals, originally from southern Israel and wielding an iron bar, broke into the Church of Mary’s Tomb yesterday morning. It is one of the most important places of worship in the Orthodox tradition in the Holy Land, a frequent destination for pilgrims, located in the eastern sector of the holy city. The two subjects tried to destroy the sacred objects that are kept inside the building, as well as physically assaulting the bishop and two priests who were celebrating Sunday service. The attackers were surprised by some of the faithful present at the scene and detained until the arrival of the security forces. In the afternoon, the police confirmed the arrest of a 27-year-old man, originally from the south of the country, but did not provide further details about the identity of the suspect.
Speaking to AFP, Bilal Abu Nab, a vendor who works near the church, said the attack was carried out by two Jews: one of them was wearing a “yarmulke” (the kippah that traditionally covers the head) and the other a “tzitzit” (referring to to the fringes of the cloak he wore). A priest was wounded in the head. The new “terrorist” attack occurs at a time of deep tension in the Holy Land, and for different reasons: firstly, the internal crisis in Israel, where tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets together with judges and magistrates to protest against the justice reform promoted by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Added to this is the open confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians (in the West Bank and Gaza), fueled by the visit of Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Esplanade of the Mosques, which risks becoming a new intifada. Lastly, confessional tensions and violence by Jewish extremists against Christians (and Muslims), the latest episode of which, in early February, was the attack on the Church of the Flagellation. Earlier in the year, extremist groups had desecrated a cemetery on Mount Zion and previously struck other targets, including a church near the Cenacle, the Nazareth Basilica and Greek Orthodox and Catholic buildings.
In the statement, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate stresses that attacks against holy places, property, and against the heritage and identity of Christians constitute a violation of international law. Christian leaders openly call for the “protection” of religious sites in Jerusalem and stress the need to respect religious freedom, a fundamental human right. Finally, Christians call for the intervention of the international community to provide security and protection, in particular to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
