Israeli Group Condemns Recent Spate of Bigotry against Armenian Clergy

A priest walks through one of the street’s in Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter. (Photo: Matthew Karanian)

JERUSALEM—The Israel Jewish Coalition for Interfaith Relations (IJCIR) condemned in a recently released statement a number of recent acts of bigotry and hatred against the Armenian clergy in Jerusalem. “We call for immediate attention and action to stop these repeated acts of violence against innocent Armenian clergy and laypersons there,” the IJCIR statement said.

“The recurring acts of spitting, shouting and graffiti against Armenian clergy in the Old City of Jerusalem have no place in our Jewish democratic State in the Holy Land. These ugly intolerant acts violate the fundamental values of Israel and Judaism and betray our commitment that all humans are created in the Image of God. Because they are created in the Divine Image, all persons are holy and must be treated with dignity and respect,” the statement said.

The statement added, “As Jews we have a specific obligation not to oppress the stranger in our society.”

The ICJRC went on to demand that the police apprehend and punish the offenders implicated in the recent crimes, insisting that such “acts of bigotry” will only stop when “swift and consistent action” is taken to try and punish the offenders.

“The extremists who perpetrate these criminal acts bring shame on the Jewish people, the State of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, its government and its police. We must act now to safeguard the stability of our society and protect the basic values of the Holy City and the State of Israel,” the ICJRC said.