Anti-Israel and antisemitic social media accounts have posted footage of Jews allegedly spitting on Christian worshippers in the old city of Jerusalem, with the video getting millions of views:
Watch | Israeli settlers spit on a group of Christian worshipers while they headed to occupied #AlQuds to observe the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.#Palestine pic.twitter.com/Fj2VUPUeyg
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 3, 2023
Who am I kidding. It is not just anti-Israel and antisemitic accounts. Those claiming the Jews spat on or at the Christians included Israel advocate Hananya Naftali, who is usually quick to condemn the alleged “persecution” of Christians at the hands of Jews:
Let me start by clearly condemning the behavior of the Jews in the video, which goes against Torah values. And it’s not just me:
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said spitting at Christians “does not represent Jewish values.”
The country’s minister of religious affairs, Michael Malkieli, a member of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, argued such spitting was “not the way of the Torah.” One of Israel’s chief rabbis insisted spitting had nothing to do with Jewish law.
As an aside, you’d think Hananya would have pointed out these statements from some prominent Israeli officials, him being an Israel advocate and all. Unless he is advocating for something else.
But back to the video, which does not exactly show what is being alleged. For what it is worth, the Jews spat on the ground when passing the Christian worshipers, which is rude behavior contrary to Torah values, but not the same as an assault.
While the spitting indicates an antipathy on the part of some Jews towards Christians, it comes from the bloody history of Jews being persecuted in the name of Christianity. Again, I am not justifying the behavior, but providing context as to why this antipathy still exists among some misguided Jews. But the vast majority of Jews in Israel are like me in finding the spitting to fly in the face of our values.
Meanwhile, I will remind you all that if you take the bad actions of a handful of Jews and try to besmirch the entire Jewish nation, you are probably an antisemite.
Updates:
4/10/23 13:40: The spitters have been arrested and the Israeli PM tweeted
“Israel is totally committed to safeguarding the sacred right of worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all faiths. I strongly condemn any attempt to intimidate worshipers, and I am committed to taking immediate and decisive action against it.”
“Derogatory conduct toward worshipers is sacrilege and is simply unacceptable. Any form of hostility toward individuals engaged in worship will not be tolerated.”
