The Supreme Presidential Committee for Follow-up of Church Affairs in Palestine condemned the extremist and racist statements of what is known as the extremist Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, about the assault of settlers and their children on some pilgrims as they passed through the Via Dolorosa in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, as he said, “This is a natural tradition.” Practice it, and it is not a violation.”

The Presidential Committee said in a statement issued by its Chairman, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Ramzi Khoury, that Ben Gvir’s statements are not just passing words, but rather a real threat to the lives of Christians, and will have dangerous and unexpected consequences, as racist and extremist practices have become openly practiced against everything that is a not Jew, and this is a natural reflection of a government that sponsors terrorism against the Palestinians.

Khoury warned of the escalation of attacks on Christians and Muslims in the alleys of the old country by settler gangs and their seriousness, which could turn into cases of physical assault or murder, calling on the international community and the churches of the world to take immediate and urgent action to stop all forms of extremism practiced by settlers under the protection of the Israeli police. .

It is noteworthy that a number of tourists were subjected to insults and spitting from a number of settlers while they were passing through the Via Dolorosa during the Via Crucis procession. The video clip recorded by the cameras shows the presence of the Israeli occupation authorities during the incident, as they did not do anything or try to prevent these racist and extremist practices.