Cases of Jews spitting on Christains “repulsive”: Minister

Press Trust of India, India
Oct 13 2004

Jerusalem, Oct 13 (PTI) Calling acts of spitting by Jews on Christian
clergy as “repulsive”, Interior Minister, Avraham Poraz, has condemned
such “repeated attacks” on the religious minority. Expressing dismay
at the recent incident in which a student of Jewish texts spit
on a cross carried by Armenian archbishop Nourhan Manougian in a
procession on Sunday, Poraz said that such acts are “intolerable”,
local media reported.

The interior minister has asked the Public Security Minister Gideon
Ezra to “take all the necessary steps to prevent these incidents in the
future.” In his talks with the heads of the churches in Israel, Poraz
asserted “Israel’s commitment to freedom of religion,” reports said.

The incident led to a fracas during which the archbishop’s medallion,
worn by Armenian archbishops since the 17th century, was damaged,
and the archbishop slapped the student.

The student was later arrested and the Jerusalem District Court
subsequently banned him from approaching the Old City for 75 days,
Daily Ha’aretz reported.

Angered by the latest incident however Armenian officials have charged
that Israeli auThorities were not doing enough.

“When there is an attack against Jews anywhere in the world, the
Israeli government is incensed, so why when our religion and pride
are hurt, don’t they take harsher measures?” Archbishop Manougian
told Haaretz. PTI