In the middle of the week, an online complaint was received in the David area of the Jerusalem district, about significant damage caused to many tombstones and graves in the Christian cemetery in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Following the complaint, the police opened an investigation, and the police investigators – along with the forensic officers who arrived at the scene, noticed the extensive destruction and worked to collect findings and evidence.
The investigation by the police shows that this is an act of intentional vandalism and defacement of many graves, which took place on Sunday this week – two days before the complaint was filed.
After various investigative operations, investigators from the David area in the Jerusalem district tracked down the identity of those involved in the act – and last night the police arrested for questioning the two suspects, aged 14 and 18, residents of the center of the country, on suspicion of vandalizing a large number of tombstones and causing damage to the cemetery.
Today the suspects will be brought to the Court of Justice for a discussion on the extension of their detention at the Court of Peace in Jerusalem.
The investigation continues with the aim of bringing them to justice.
Yasaka Harani, an expert and independent researcher of Christianity, told Ynet after the destruction was revealed: “It is a strategic place that those who damaged the tombstones do not understand the damage they are causing. The rioters smashed the graves because there are crosses there and they fell on a place that is one of the most important historical sites in the world. It’s like doing vandalism in the nation’s largest plot on Mount Herzl.”
In the meantime, the commander of the Jerusalem Police District, Superintendent Doron Turgeman, met yesterday morning at the Greek Patriarchate in the Old City of Jerusalem, with the Greek Patriarch.
In a meeting that was attended by the secretary of the Greek Patriarch, the commander of the David area, Avi Cohen, and the officers of the area, the Jerusalem Police Department expressed the commitment of the Israel Police to find and arrest the suspects in the act and work to bring them to justice.
The commander of the Jerusalem district also offered assistance in repairing the damage on the spot: “As the police of all residents and visitors to Jerusalem, Jews, Muslims and Christians, we act against violence and acts of vandalism, and in particular those that hurt religious sentiments. Any damage to religious institutions and sites is serious and damages the unique and delicate fabric of life that exists in the city for members of all religions and denominations.
“We will continue to be committed to maintaining security and order, to a determined and uncompromising fight against lawbreakers wherever they are, and to work in cooperation with you throughout the year.”