ROME, DEC. 13, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See condemned an act of vandalism that took place at an Armenian cemetery and a Greek Orthodox monastery in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
The Israeli Embassy to the Holy See denounced the attacks in a communique released Wednesday. “The Embassy of Israel to the Holy See expresses its strongest condemnation of the vandalism yesterday, December 11, 2012, that violated the Monastery of the Cross in […] Jerusalem. We deplore this type of behavior that is completely at odds with the values and traditions of Israel,” the statement read.
The Embassy also released a statement by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who referred to the vandalism as “disgusting”.
“The Jewish values that we were raised on and that we raise our children to follow totally reject this kind of behavior. Freedom of worship for all religions will be safeguarded in Israel. The despicable people who committed this crime will be brought to justice.”
Vandals have attacked various Christian and Orthodox monasteries by spray painting statements denigrating Jesus Christ along with the phrase “price tag” written next to the blasphemous remarks.
Price tag refers to the name given for vandalism or acts of violence aimed usually at Israeli security forces or Palestinians. Usually carried out by radical Israeli Jewish settlers, attackers will strike at a site, usually Christian or Muslim, as a “price” for being evicted from their settlements.
