PA committee condemns Ben-Gvir’s threat to Christian pilgrims

The Palestinian Authority’s Supreme Presidential Committee for Follow-up of Church Affairs in Palestine condemned on Wednesday the racist statements by Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, about assaults by settlers and their children on Christian pilgrims.

Committee Chairman Ramzi Khoury said that far-right extremist Ben-Gvir’s remarks “are not just passing words, but rather a real threat to the lives of Christians… which will have dangerous and unexpected consequences, as racist and extremist practices have become openly practiced against everyone who is a not Jew.”

WATCH: Ben-Gvir: ‘Israelis spitting on Christians is an old Jewish tradition’

Khoury pointed out that this is a “natural reflection” of a government that sponsors “terrorism” against the Palestinians. He warned of the escalation of attacks on Christians and Muslims in the alleyways of the occupied Old City of Jerusalem by “settler gangs,” which could turn into cases of physical assault or murder.

The PA official called on the international community and churches around the world to take immediate and urgent action to stop settler extremism under the protection of the Israeli police.

A number of tourists have been abused and spat on by Jewish settlers while walking along the Via Dolorosa during the Via Crucis procession. Video footage showed the presence of the Israeli occupation forces during the incident; they did nothing to stop or prevent the settlers’ racist action.

READ: Israeli leaders finally react to escalation of anti-Christian attacks by illegal settlers