- Jerusalem's Christian community has demanded that Jewish
leaders and the Israeli government take action against what they claim
is growing harassment of their clergy by religious Jews.
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- Christians say ultra-Orthodox Jewish students spit at
them or at the ground when they pass. There have also been acts of vandalism
against statues of the Virgin Mary.
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- The harassment came to a head last week when a Jewish
student spat at Armenian Archbishop Nourhan Manougian and ripped off his
crucifix, whereupon the archbishop slapped him. The police questioned both
men.
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- Mainstream Israeli opinion has been revolted by the revelations
of the abuse of Christian clergy. Avraham Poraz, the interior minister,
condemned the trend of spitting at the cross and those wearing it, saying
it was 'intolerable' and that he was 'revolted' by it. A former chief rabbi
also voiced his outrage.
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- All the Christian groups complain of harassment, but
the Armenians bear the brunt. Armenian clergymen said that, when they complained
to the interior minister seven months ago, he told them: 'Most Jews have
a big problem with them as well.'
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- The 3,000-strong community live in the Armenian quarter
and many Jews walk through it on their way from west Jerusalem to the Wailing
Wall or Western Wall.
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- Father Pakrad Bourjekian, a spokesman for the Armenian
church, said the attack was an extreme example of the harassment they receive
every day. 'Every day the fanatical Jews turn their face to the wall or
spit on the ground or at us when they see the crucifix,' he said.
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- The Christians admit that it is only a minority who carry
out the abuse, but they feel that the issue is being ignored by religious
leaders.
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- Bishop Aris Shirvanian of the Armenian church said: 'The
majority are courteous or indifferent. The problem is the very religious.
It's a question of education. What must these people be learning to behave
like this?'
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- The old city of Jerusalem is buzzing with rumours that
young Armenians will take revenge for the attack and the daily indignities
suffered by their priests.
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- Bishop Aris acknowledged that there was a danger of reprisals.
'We are trying to control our young people and we are succeeding. But the
question is that there is no one in the Jewish community trying to control
their fanatics,' he said.
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- Father Pakrad added: 'There is no hierarchy. Anyone can
become a rabbi, set up an institution, get funds from abroad and teach
what they like.'
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- Jerusalem has always been a city of conflict. Even the
old Christian churches - the Armenian, Orthodox, Coptic, Syrian, Ethiopian
and Catholic - are known for their disputes, which regularly result in
brawls.
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- In the current dispute, the Muslims, the old city's biggest
group, are for once not involved. 'I do not think these Jews would dare
spit at a Muslim sheikh; the whole city would explode. We are only a small
group, so it easy to bully us,' said Bishop Aris.
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- http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0%2C6903
%2C1329322%2C00.html
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