Harassment and violence against Christians call into question their long-term presence in Palestine and Israel, a respected Jerusalem think tank has warned.
In a shocking report, the Rossing Center, which aims to foster Jewish-Christian relations, records a “continued and expanding pattern of intimidation and aggression” against Christians in occupied East Jerusalem, including the Old City, and Israel.
It finds they are targeted not just as Christians but also – in the case of Palestinian Christians – as a national minority.
The report blames Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government for what it calls “the recent surge in overt animosity towards Christianity”.
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The report was published after Israeli police blocked Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, patriarch of the Latin church, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate the Palm Sunday mass.
Pizzaballa’s office said in a statement it had been the first time in centuries that the patriarch had been unable to celebrate the mass marking the start of Easter week in the church, which Christians believe is built on the site where Jesus was crucified, and later buried and resurrected.
Maybe this helps American politicians to disentangle from Israel, when the “religious” part of their votership complains.
They’re Nazis first and foremost. The “holy” book they wave around is incidental.
