Orthodox Jews spat at Christian worshippers in the Old City of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) anew on Wednesday, amid a rise in incidents targeting priests and pilgrims in the holy city.
Israeli media reported that occupation police arrested five Jews “on suspicion” of spitting at Christians, in an attempt to show that the Israeli government exerts efforts to confront such provocations.
Video shared on social media showed a group of Orthodox Jews spitting as they were walking through the Old City.
The Jerusalem Post cited N12 as saying that the brother of MK Simcha Rothman, Rabbi Natan Rothman, led the procession this morning during which the provocation took place.
It added that the rabbi “did not commit the act himself, but rather his students who were with him.”
Wednesday’s provocation followed a spitting incident during the so-called Sukkot holiday celebrations on Tuesday, as well as another on Monday.
Spitting at Christians “Ancient Jewish Custom”
At the same time, the so-called Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said in an interview: “I still think spitting at Christians is not a criminal case. I think we need to act on it through instruction and education. Not everything justifies an arrest.”
Speaking to Army Radio, the minister in charge of police added: “It is deserving of every condemnation. It should be stopped. I asked Rabbi Dov Lior, he said it was immoral and wrong. We’re against it. But let’s stop slandering Israel. We’re all brothers, we’re all of the same people.”
Before entering politics, Ben Gvir in the past justified spitting toward Christians as “an ancient Jewish custom.”
Source: Israeli media
