3 Jewish Teens Charged in Vandalism of Jerusalem Monastery
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
JERUSALEM — Three Jewish-Israeli teens were indicted in the vandalism of a Jerusalem monastery with anti-Christian graffiti.
The indictment was filed Sunday in Jerusalem District Court in the Jan. 17 attack on the Dormition Abbey, located on Mount Zion just outside the Old City of Jerusalem.
The graffiti, written in Hebrew, included “Christians to Hell,” “May his name be obliterated,” and “Death to the heathen Christians the enemies of Israel.”
The identities of the boys, who were arrested on Jan. 20, are not public since they are minors.
Anti-Christian graffiti was previously painted on the Benedictine abbey’s walls in 2013 and 2012. Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the abbey during a visit in 2014.
The abbey is believed to be the site where the Virgin Mary died and near where the Last Supper was held. It is located next to the site considered to be the tomb of King David.
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