West Bank Resident Charged With Spitting at Jerusalem Church
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
An indictment was filed against Avraham Antman, a 19-year-old West Bank resident, for allegedly spitting at a church door in Jerusalem's Old City out of hatred for Christians. The incident is part of a series of church desecrations in the area. In a similar case from June 2025, another man was charged with spitting at a church, and in July 2024, a man was accused of pepper-spraying a restaurant and a church. Police express frustration over limited charges and the prosecution's reluctance to approve further investigations.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avraham Antman, 19, from Yitzhar, was indicted for spitting at a church in Jerusalem's Old City.
- Antman allegedly acted out of hatred for Christians and Arabs, intending to desecrate a place of worship.
- The incident is the latest in a series of church desecrations in Jerusalem's Old City.
- In June 2025, another man was charged with spitting at a church after seeing a cross.
- In July 2024, Yesachar Gafan was accused of pepper-spraying a restaurant and a church.
- A police source cited limited charges and prosecution reluctance as hindrances to further investigation.
Israel's State Prosecution filed an indictment on Wednesday against Avraham Antman, a 19-year-old resident of Yitzhar in the West Bank, for allegedly spitting at the door of the "Church of Jesus's Imprisonment" in Jerusalem's Old City. The indictment states that on July 27, 2025, Antman approached the church during a tour of the Old City and spat at its door, motivated by hatred towards Christians and Arabs. Prosecutors allege his actions were intended to desecrate a place of worship and insult the faith of worshippers, knowing it could offend them. Antman is charged with religious insult, and the prosecution intends to seek a prison sentence.
This incident follows a pattern of church desecration in the Old City. In June 2025, an indictment was filed against a 40-year-old resident of Modi'in Illit who allegedly spat at a church door after noticing a cross. His 12-year-old son also reportedly spat on the ground. In another case from July 2024, Yesachar Gafan, 22, from Modi'in Illit, was accused of a racially motivated assault for pepper-spraying patrons and staff at the "Armenian Tavern" restaurant in the Old City. Gafan allegedly targeted the restaurant after seeing Armenian flags, entered, and sprayed the premises, causing choking and burning sensations. He is also accused of making an obscene gesture towards a church and spraying it with pepper spray as he fled.
According to a police source, suspects in some of these cases are caught in the act but later released by the courts. The source suggested that the charges available to prosecute are limited, and the prosecution is not quick to approve further investigations for additional offenses.
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