Seven Ultra-Orthodox Suspects Detained in Jerusalem Old City Incidents

Jerusalem police detained seven ultra-Orthodox Jewish men over the weekend in connection with separate incidents in the Old City. Four suspects were arrested for allegedly spitting at the Armenian Patriarchate Monastery in the Armenian Quarter. Three additional men were detained on suspicion of vandalizing Muslim graves in the area.

The arrests occurred during increased police activity aimed at preventing attacks on clergy and holy sites. The spitting incidents, in particular, have sparked international outcry in recent months, with some ultra-Orthodox figures stating these are fringe actions not supported by religious leadership.

Police identified the four suspects spitting near the monastery during overt and covert patrols and apprehended them for questioning. Simultaneously, three other individuals were identified and detained for allegedly vandalizing graves in a Muslim cemetery within the Old City.

All suspects were questioned on suspicion of behavior that could harm public order, a serious offense in sensitive areas like the Old City. They were subsequently released under restrictive conditions while the investigation continues. Police emphasized their commitment to combating any attempts to harm public order or religious freedom in the Old City.

Prominent rabbis, including Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz and Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, have strongly condemned the spitting incidents, calling them religiously baseless and a violation of human dignity and Jerusalem's sanctity. Knesset Member Uri Maklev of the United Torah Judaism party also reiterated that the ultra-Orthodox public rejects and condemns these acts, deeming them exceptional fringe occurrences.