Just weeks before a visit by Pope Francis to the occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem), the city is witnessing a rise in a string of racist attacks on Christian sites.
In the latest such incidents, extremist settlers have sprayed anti-Christian graffiti on the outside wall of a church in the occupied territories.
The Vatican urged Israel on Thursday to safeguard Christian sites in East al-Quds.
Israel is facing mounting pressure to rein in a spiraling wave of hate crimes by Israelis targeting Christian and Muslim religious sites, with new racist vandalism attacks being reported on an almost daily basis.
Despite hundreds of arrests as a result of hate crimes in Israel, no one has been prosecuted so far.
Also on Monday, the Vatican said graffiti reading “Death to Arabs and Christians and those who hate Israel” was daubed over offices belonging to the Assembly of Bishops at the Notre Dame center which is a Vatican-owned complex in the city.
Hate attacks also dubbed price tag attacks against Muslim and Christian properties are on the rise in Israel.
Price tag attacks are acts of vandalism and violence against Palestinians and their properties as well as Islamic holy sites.
The United Nations has recorded “399 attacks” of this kind by Israeli settlers, which have “resulted in Palestinian injuries or property damage.”
The al-Aqsa Mosque has been the scene of clashes in recent months following frequent visits by illegal Israeli settlers and officials to the Muslim holy site. Israeli forces also prevent Muslim worshipers from freely entering the mosque.
The al-Aqsa compound, which lies in the Israeli-occupied Old City of al-Quds, is a flashpoint.
In February, Israeli forces stormed the holy site during Friday prayers. Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at the people who were praying at the mosque. At least 20 people, including children, were wounded in the violence.
JR/AB
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