An American citizen was arrested in Jerusalem on Thursday after allegedly entering a church and pulling a statue of Jesus down from its pedestal, Israel police said.
The incident took place inside the Church of Flagellation, a Christian pilgrimage site on the city’s Via Dolorosa – the route from which Jesus is said to have carried his cross to the place of his crucifixion .
In images shared on social media, the damaged statue can be seen lying on its side after seemingly being torn off its pedestal. On the floor next to the statue, a panting man can be seen restraining the vandal. The suspect can be heard saying, “You can’t have idols in Jerusalem. “This is a holy city.”
The man can also be heard asking permission to “put on my kippah”—a reference to the traditional headscarf worn by Jewish men—and apparently justifying his actions by cited “The Second Commandment, Exodus chapter 20”. The Second Commandment forbids idolatry as if they were God.
In another video in which the alleged vandal appears to be surrounded by armed police, the man says: “If you’re going to film me that’s fine because we can’t have idols in Jerusalem- salem. This is a very serious problem. We cannot worship the stones of false gods in Jerusalem.”
In a statement, Israeli police said they made the arrest with the help of a security guard at the church and that the suspect’s mental health is currently being evaluated. Related press report.
The attack was one of several recorded at Christian sites in Israel this year, with church officials raising concerns that anti-Christian sentiment has increased with the increase of attacks. New far-right government of Israel. On January 1, young Israelis desecrated a Christian cemetery by smashing crosses and headstones of more than 30 graves.
Later in the month, a restaurant in Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter was attacked with video showing tables and chairs being thrown. In December, the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem issued a Joint statement expressed alarm that Christians “have become the target of frequent and prolonged attacks by extremist groups.”
Father Nikodemus Schnabel of Dormition Monastery located near Jerusalem’s Old City thinks Thursday’s attack is consistent with the views of Israel’s new leadership. “Welcome to a new Israel that hates Christianity, encouraged and supported by the current government!” Schnabel tweeted.
The apparent attack against Christianity comes amid a growing wave of bloodshed in the West Bank and occupied Israel. alleged Israeli soldier kill ten people including an elderly woman during a raid on a refugee camp last Thursday. A day later, a Palestinian gunman shot dead seven Israelis as they left a synagogue in East Jerusalem.
