Jewish militants suspected of vandalising monastery

SUSPECTED JEWISH militants have vandalised a Trappist monastery outside Jerusalem in what police think is a so-called “price-tag” attack in response to the eviction of settlers from a West Bank outpost earlier this week.

Early yesterday monks at the Latrun Monastery discovered graffiti reading, “Jesus is a monkey” and “tit for tat”, with the names of other illegal outposts in large orange letters. The monastery’s wooden door had been set on fire.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Those responsible must be severely punished. Religious freedom and freedom of worship are two of the most basic institutions in Israel.”

The police set up a special team to investigate. They suspect the incident was in response to the eviction of 50 settler families from the illegal hilltop outpost of Migron, north of Jerusalem, following a high court ruling that the land was owned by Palestinians.

There have been scores of “price-tag” attacks by Jewish militants over recent years in response to the removal of settlers. Most target Palestinians but Israeli army bases and military property have also been vandalised. Mosques and churches have also been damaged in such attacks.

Police have only succeeded in bringing a few culprits to justice.

Fr Lewis, of the monastery, said: “At the heart of whoever did this, there is hatred and intolerance toward people of a different faith.”