Israeli police on Thursday arrested eight people after they were seen spitting at a church in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The suspects, who were caught in the act by security cameras during a church ceremony, include adults and minors, and two of them were previously apprehended in connection with a similar incident that occurred two months earlier, the police said.
Israeli authorities and rabbinical leaders have denounced such attacks by fringe elements of the ultra-Orthodox community.
“We will not tolerate expressions of hatred toward anyone, Christians, Jews or Muslims, in the Old City or anywhere else in Jerusalem,” said Ch. Supt. Dvir Tamim of the Jerusalem District Police.
“We condemn this ugly phenomenon that harms the unique fabric of life that has existed in this area for many years, which includes visitors, worshippers and travelers of all religions, side by side,” he said.
