Police suspect Israeli right-wing religious extremists as being behind the anti-Christian vandalism, Associated Press reported over the weekend.
"Jewish extremists" vandalize yet another Christian community (Dormition Abbey/Jerusalem). Hmm, the "Jewish ISIS." pic.twitter.com/dL9tdkcuMk
— Dr. Craig Considine (@CraigCons) January 18, 2016
On the doors and walls of the Benedictine monastery, where, according to Christian tradition, the Virgin Mary died, words degrading Jesus were seen, while other slogans suggested that Christians ‘go to hell.’
Hebrew-graffiti were found on walls of Dormition Abbey,not only agnst Jesus,but also call 4 slaughtering Christians pic.twitter.com/3dNNCVtWh9
— Dr. Ramy Abdu (@RamAbdu) January 17, 2016
The vandalism prompted a sharp reaction from Jewish State authorities.
“We will not allow anyone to undermine the coexistence between religions in Israel,” Gilad Erdan, Israel's Minister of Public Security, said, according to AP.
“We will show zero tolerance to whomever harms the democratic foundations of Israel and its freedom of religion and we will apprehend those who carried out this heinous act,” he said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the action in a statement.
PM Netanyahu condemned the spraying of anti-Christian slogans on the walls of the Dormition Abbey: police is searching for those responsible
— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) January 17, 2016
The Dormition Abbey is a popular historic site for pilgrims and tourists. The church and the surrounding buildings have been vandalized several times in the past.
