Israeli leaders and members of the public are sharply criticizing Orthodox Jewish extremists who were captured on video earlier this week spitting at Christians in the Old City as they commemorated Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles.
On Tuesday night, another group of Orthodox protesters gathered outside an International Christian Embassy (ICEJ) event. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement Tuesday indicating “zero tolerance toward any harm to worshipers.”
He said, “Israel is fully committed to safeguarding the sacred right of freedom of worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all faiths, and added that “we will take urgent steps against such actions.
“Foreign Minister Eli Cohen also reacted strongly, saying, “I condemn the ugly act of spitting on Christians and harming any person due to their religion or beliefs.
” Police announced they had arrested five people, four adults and one youth, for the spitting incident in the Old City. In advance of Wednesday’s Israeli march through Jerusalem to be joined by Christians from an estimated 80 nations.
The ICEJ issued a statement welcoming the strong support from Israeli leaders and “their disapproval of recent acts meant to humiliate or harm Christians.
The Jerusalem Post cited one defender of the protesters, Elisha Yered, who is a former spokesperson for a Knesset member. He posted on X the suggestion that centuries-long Christian persecution of Jews led to the custom of spitting.
“Perhaps under the influence of Western culture, we have forgotten what Christianity is, but I think the millions of Jews who experienced the Crusades, the Inquisition, blood libel, and mass pogroms will never forget,” Yered said.
“It said, in part, “We must be the first to admit there is a much longer, painful history of Christian hostility towards the Jewish people.
There has been a change in Christian attitudes concerning the nation and people of Israel in our day. The vast majority of Israelis we encounter know this and have warmly welcomed us in Jerusalem for Sukkot once again.
I believe Elisha Yered needs to study history because it wasn’t Christians who persecuted Jews but leaders and people claiming to be Christians but were followers of the devil.
An example, we know that the crusades were not Christians but were Masons who are not Christians who serve Lucifer. We have the same today many leaders and people who claim to be Christians but in reality, they serve the devil.
The Christians that got spit on got off easy since Jesus was taken to the Romans by the Jewish leaders. The Jewish leaders sought to kill Jesus throughout His earthly ministry and were constantly trying to trip Him up so that others would stop following Him.
They wanted Him dead because they believed he was guilty of blasphemy for saying he was the Son of God.
Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death.
The Jews came up with false witnesses, they held an illegal trial at night with several of the members of the court missing, and they were the ones who handed Jesus over to the Romans to have Him crucified. But in reality, God gave his only Son so we could have eternal life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Jesus gave his life: Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Romans 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.
Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Romans 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Romans 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
Romans 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Romans 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
1 Peter 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.