The Latin Patriarchate condemned the attack on the priest in Jerusalem: "a provocative and shameful attack" The two suspects in the attack are residents of Jerusalem, who allegedly spat and blasphemed the priest near the Jaffa Gate in the Old City. After the police located them, they were arrested, and then released to house arrest.
In recent months there have been a series of serious incidents in which Christian clergymen were attacked in theOld City area of Jerusalem by Jewish youths.