U.S. Consul General Slams Settlers’ Attacks on Holy Sites as Hate Crimes

posted on: Feb 28, 2015

The United States slammed settlers’ arson attacks against a church in Jerusalem and a mosque in Bethlehem as ‘hate crimes’ and encouraged local authorities to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

Last Week, Israeli settlers set fire to the Greek Orthodox Church monastery of Sion in Jerusalem as well as torched a mosque in Jab‘a village, in Bethlehem.

“We stand with all those, including the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land, in strongly condemning these crimes of hate,” stressed a statement by U.S. Consul General Michael Ratney.

Following a visit to the torched sites, Ratney said that both [sites] had been torched and vandalized in apparent ‘price tag’ attacks.

“Make no mistake, any attack against holy and religious sites is an attack on the very idea of Jerusalem and Bethlehem as sacred places shared among the three great Abrahamic faiths, he said.

“The United States strongly condemns these hate crimes and encourages local authorities to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice; and we stand with all those, including the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land, in strongly condemning these crimes of hate,” concluded the statement.

Source: english.wafa.ps