Pizzaballa to Peres: Stop the anti-Christian slogans

Following a series of events in which radicals wrote insulting slogans against Christians and Christianity on the walls of churches in Jerusalem, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa wrote to the State President asking him to intervene in order to stop this dangerous phenomenon. In recent weeks, radicals wrote insulting slogans on the walls of Christian institutions in the city: on the Orthodox monastery in the Valley of the Cross, on the Greek Orthodox church in San Simon, on the Baptist Church on Narkis Street and on the cemetery on Mount Zion. The Police suspects that those responsible are Jewish radicals who have carried similar acts against mosques as well as against the bilingual Arab-Jewish school in the city.

Father Pizzaballa wrote in his letter: “These actions, which as far as I know haven't led to any arrests, are but one painful example in a series of similar actions being carried out recently without hardly any hindrance. As you know, it is not my practice to write letters such as this. The various Christian communities live quietly and peacefully in Israel, with respect, appreciation and good relations with Jews and Moslems ... Unfortunately, throughout the years we have learned to ignore provocations and continue our daily life. Still, is seems that this time red lines have been crossed and we cannot remain silent. These shocking slogans sprayed on Christian sites of prayer, especially in Jerusalem, hurt the feelings of all the Christians in Israel, regardless of their creed, as well as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visiting Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and millions more worldwide… I would be grateful, if you would use all your power and influence with the authorities so that this dangerous pattern of action will be eradicated and these actions stopped, before they become an habitual part of Christian life in Israel"

Read the article about Pizzaballa’s letter here