Israeli police detain extremists before pope visit
The activists would not be allowed to enter certain areas "for security reasons" for four days
Israel’s national police force said Wednesday it has issued restraining orders against several Jewish extremists who had planned to “disrupt” the upcoming visit of Pope Francis.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said a “number of right-wing activists” have been restrained for their intention to carry out “provocative and illegal acts” during the three-day visit to the Holy Land. The order restricts them from Jerusalem's Old City, where Francis will visit, and orders them to stay away from the pope, Rosenfeld said.
In recent weeks, vandals have scribbled anti-Arab and anti-Christian graffiti on Christian holy sites and properties, including a Roman Catholic visitor's center outside the Old City.
In addition to churches and monasteries, vandals have also targeted mosques, dovish Israeli groups and even Israeli military bases.
A tiny fringe group of radical Israeli settlers are believed to be behind the spate of attacks meant to protest what they perceive as the Israeli government's pro-Palestinian policies and in retaliation for Palestinian attacks.
The pope is set to visit Jordan, the West Bank and Israel during a three-day visit beginning Saturday.
Also Read
-
Pope promises to help Ukraine
The Vatican’s spiritual leader and Ukraine’s Prime Minister met on Saturday World News -
Lebanon patriarch to join pope on Jerusalem visit
Lebanon's Maronite patriarch says will join Pope Francis in May on a Holy Land tour Middle East -
Report: Maronite patriach Jerusalem visit a 'historic sin'
A newspaper close to Hezbollah said that a visit to Jerusalem by the patriach of the Lebanon-based Maronite church to Pope Francis would be a 'historic sin' Middle East -
Jerusalem church defaced weeks before pope visit
The vandals recently have scribbled anti-Arab and anti-Christian graffiti on several Christian holy sites and properties Middle East -
Hezbollah warns Lebanon top clergy against Jerusalem visit
Hezbollah warns that a visit to Jerusalem by the head of Lebanon’s Maronite Church to greet Catholic Pope Francis will have negative consequences Middle East
