Vandals Deface Jerusalem Church before Pope Visits
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Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world - Updated May 09, 2014
Jerusalem authorities report a church in the Holy Land has been vandalized only weeks before Pope Francis visits the area. Police force spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that the wall of the church was painted with “anti-Christian graffiti.”
Jewish extremists are believed to be behind the incident reports the AP.
The rebels “want to prevent us from living in any reasonable way,” justice minister Tzipi Livni said.
Livni referred to the extremists as a “hard-core group that doesn’t accept the rule of law.”
The small group has performed similar acts of vandalism in the past as a means of protesting what they believe to be pro-Palestinian policies in Israel. The Vatican’s Notre Dame Center was a target earlier this week.
“Politically, they are the ones that will prevent us from reaching a peace agreement,” Livni said.
In preparation of the Pope’s visit, religious officials are urging the nation to secure other landmarks in the city.
