Catholic Arena has come under fire in recent weeks from American and Israeli Zionists, who object to us telling the world about the treatment of Christians in Israel at present.
Echoing the words of soon to be Cardinal Pizzaballa, we have told people of how Christians are being spat upon, their churches are being attacked and their cemeteries ransacked.
In June, the Israeli government reacted with fury and terror to the organisation of a conference entitled 'Why do (SOME) Jews spit on Christians? Referring to it as anti-semetic, the government did everything in their power to shut it down, with the original location of a museum even having their CEO threatened with being fired if they hosted the event. The organisers were Center for the Study of Relations Between Jews, Christians and Muslims at the Open University of Israel.
At the conference, Ysca Harani spoke of how she had used 70 volunteers to set up a hotline for religious discrimination.
Here are some of the examples of discrimination reported:
1
Health clinic (Kupat Holim) Jerusalem 07/02/2023
A nurse refused to take a blood test from a Christian nun. The nun waited until another nurse arrived and took blood.
2
King Davids Tomb, Mount Zion, Jerusalem 07/03/2023
A nun was stopped and refused entry to the women's section of King David's tomb by a Jewish woman, who told her she was not allowed to enter.
3
Mount of Beatitudes, Galilee , 07/04/2023
The symbol of a cross, and of the church, were erased from the official road sign on the road leading to the site of the Mount of Beatitudes.
4
Jaffa Gate Old City, Jerusalem 07/07/2023
A tour guide with 3 Chinese tourists, stood next to the mezuzah at Jaffa Gate for an explanation. A religious Jew began shouting frighteningly at the group, "Don't touch. Don't touch. Don't touch! You Goyim!" and then moved physically and closely among them.
5
Hachoma Hashlishit Street - Polish Monastery Jerusalem 07/07/2023
At around 5:30 PM, garbage began to be thrown into the convent garden, this was followed by hurling stones, when the sisters came out to take pictures of the garbage in the garden.
6
Hachoma Hashlishit Street - Polish Monastery 07/08/2023
Between 4:45 PM and 5:20 PM, large stones were thrown towards the monastery from the house next door, which shattered on the wall of the Chapel. This was followed by bottles and then more large stones thrown at the convent..
7
Jaffa gate Old City, Jerusalem 07/10/2023
A Coptic priest was walking in the Jaffa Gate area, when 3 men spat at him. A complaint was filed with the police. The perpetrators were caught.
8
Hachoma Hashlishit Street - Polish Monastery 07/11/2023
A visitor opened the Polish monastery gate to enter. Three children spat in her direction and fled toward the Braslav' school behind the monastery
9
Hachoma Hashlishit Street - Polish Monastery 07/12/2023
A large number of rotten apples (around 3 kg.) were thrown into the monastery's yard.
10
Hachoma Hashlishit Street - Polish Monastery 07/14/2023
Twice, at 3:28 AM and at 4:00 AM men entered the property and smashed vases on the door of the monastery as captured by the camera
11
Hachoma Hashlishit Street - Polish Monastery 07/15/2023
At 2:24 AM, 2 men entered the monastery property, picked vases from the garden, and smashed them on the door of the convent as captured by the camera.
12
Hachoma Hashlishit Street - Polish Monastery 07/15/2023
At 3:50 AM, 3 men entered the monastery property and looked around, tried to open the door of the house but it was locked. Then they left, as captured by the camera.
13
Western Wall Area, Jerusalem 07/19/2023
A Catholic priest was walking in the open plaza outside the prayer area of the Western Wall. He was approached by a stewardess of the Western Wall Heritage Authority and told to take off his cross or to hide it.
14
Entry to Station 2 Via Dolorosa Jerusalem O7/21/2023
A group of Orthodox Jews passed by the entry to the 2nd Station and spat at it.
15
Mount Zion, Jerusalem 21/07/2023
A Jewish man spat on Christian pilgrims and threatened to stab them.
16
Stella Maris, Haifa 07/23/2023
About 30 yeshiva students approached the Stella Maris Church in Haifa. Friction arose with the local Christians. The Haifa police was called to the scene, separated the people, and forced the yeshiva students (mostly minors) to return to their bus.
17
Mt. Zion Jerusalem - next to restrooms 07/25/2023
A group of pilgrims with a tour guide and a pastor, was approached by a Jewish young man who aggressively silenced the female pastor from talking (not preaching nor leading a prayer). He shouted at them that they are not allowed to be there, nor talk there, that they should leave the Jewish state and used curse words. He approached them very close in an intimidating way and did not stop until the group left the area.
18
Gate of the Armenian Patriarchate Jerusalem 07/26/2023
Two girls passed by the monastery on the eve of Tish'a B'Av and one spat at the monastery gate. Asked why, she replied: "Jerusalem is Jewish and should be ours"
19
Gate of the Armenian Patriarchate Jerusalem 07/26/2023
Three men passed by the monastery on the eve of Tish'a B'Av and spat at the monastery gate. A policewoman was present and told them that it isn't nice and let them go.
20
Via Dolorosa Street, In front of 2nd Station. 07/27/2023
A group of religious Jews was walking towards the Lions Gate, passing the 2nd Station of the Via Dolorosa where pilgrims were standing as seen in the video. Some of them spat and one spitter spat twice in a demonstrative way.
There are American and European Zionist Christians who defend this treatment towards their fellow Christians.
We oppose Christians being spat upon, we oppose Christian being told that they do not belong in Israel, we oppose Christians having their churches surrounded and invaded, we oppose people threatening to stab Christians.
With elections looming in the United States of America in particular, this issue needs to be made a worldwide one in order to protect our brothers and sisters.
You can read the full report of the hotline here and you can read more about the conference here.
