Jerusalem: Catholic cemetery desecrated again

Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

The cemetery of the Salesian Monastery at Beit Jamal, (Beit Gemal) near Beit Shemesh west of Jerusalem, was badly vandalised yesterday, Wednesday 17, 2018, by unknown assailants, who destroyed many tombs and smashed several crosses.

This incident comes two years after similar vandalism that targeted the same cemetery and one year after the desecration of the church at the Monastery last year. In those two cases, the Israeli security services failed to bring anybody to justice for these acts.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement today: "It is of regret and anger to see ourselves busy condemning such criminal acts, which were repeated many times in recent years, while we almost don't see any security and/or educational response to this dangerous phenomenon by the state authorities - especially as - at the time - top officials in the country claim that Christians are doing very well!

"While we demand the state, with all its relevant bodies, work to punish the attackers and educate the people not to make similar offences, we pray to the Almighty for the retreat of the attackers and hope that all peoples, especially in our Holy Land, learn to coexist with each other in love and mutual respect, regardless of the diversities among them."