2 Jewish youths arrested after spitting on Christian clergyman in occupied East Jerusalem

ANKARA

Israeli police arrested two Orthodox Jewish suspects after footage emerged of them insulting and spitting on a Christian archpriest in occupied East Jerusalem.

The footage, posted on social media, showed two Jewish youths verbally abusing Archpriest Nikodemus Schnabel of the Benedictine order of the Catholic Church.

Schnabel confirmed the insults on X, noting the incident occurred around 4 p.m. local time (1400GMT) on Saturday.

"The videos from today that are circulating about me are authentic. They show a part of the reality of my life that's rarely filmed," he said, adding:

"I've not sought publicity with them, as there are much more terrible things that people have to suffer here. Let's pray for peace and reconciliation."

Israeli police arrested the Jewish youths according to Haaretz daily. They were reportedly placed under house arrest after being questioned.  

Condemnation

Palestine on Sunday condemned the attack by Israeli settlers, calling it “a translation of a racist colonial culture.”

⁠In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said "Jewish extremists attacking and spitting on a monk in Jerusalem is a translation of a racist colonial culture."

⁠The ministry condemned the attack in "the strongest terms," calling it "provocative, arrogant, colonial, and racist.

"It reflects the culture of hatred, malice, and denial of the existence of the other."

Recent years have seen an increase in attacks by Jewish settlers on Christians, as well as their religious figures and holy sites in East Jerusalem.

Christian institutions and religious figures accuse Israeli authorities of turning a blind eye to Jewish settlers' attacks.  

*Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul