Today, Wednesday, Israeli police arrested five religious Jewish suspects for spitting on Christians and church doors in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, according to a statement issued by the police.

The statement indicated that four of the detainees were observed practicing this disgraceful and racist behavior this morning, and one of them was suspected of spitting toward a worker at the entrance to a church, and the fifth detainee was spotted earlier this week.

The police said that three of the detainees were monitored through the police camera network “Mabat 2000” (“Basr 2000”). All detainees were transferred for investigation.

The statement added that the Jerusalem District Police Chief, Doron Turgeman, instructed the formation of a special investigation team to deal with the phenomenon of spitting and manifestations of hatred in the Old City against Christians, and to expand operational police activities, integrate technological means, and research into making changes that would allow imposing fines on those who practice this racist behavior.

Turgeman said, according to the statement, “We will not tolerate expressions of hatred towards anyone, Jews, Muslims and Christians, in the Old City and anywhere else in Jerusalem. Violence and hatred towards others take place in various forms. Unfortunately, we are witnessing the continuation of this despicable and hideous phenomenon of manifestations of hatred towards Christians.” In the Old City of Jerusalem, especially by extremists spitting on the ground while passing by them.”

He added, "Those who do this suffer from a problem in education, awareness, and respect for others first, and we condemn this hideous phenomenon that affects the special fabric of life in this region, which includes visitors, worshipers, and hikers of all religions."

A video released by the police shows a number of detainees during a march in the Old City of Jerusalem, led by the brother of the Chairman of the Law and Constitution Committee in the Knesset, Simcha Rotman, who also participated in the march. Another video shows one of them spitting toward a Christian kiosk owner selling crosses. , Today morning.

Yesterday, Elisha Yereid, former spokesman for Knesset member Limor Son Har Melech from the Otzma Yehudit party, who is accused of involvement in the killing of the martyr Qusay Matan in the village of Burqa, supported the disgraceful and racist behavior, and wrote on the “X” platform that “this is a good time to remind that “The custom of spitting near monks or churches is an ancient Jewish custom.”

Later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced this phenomenon, and claimed that “Israel is fully committed to preserving the sacred right to worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all religions, and I strongly denounce any attempt to harm worshipers, and we will implement immediate and firm steps against these actions. This behavior Hostility against worshipers is blasphemy and unacceptable to reason, and we will show zero tolerance towards any harm to worshipers.”