Police for the third time arrest a man suspected of vandalizing widely frequented sites in Jerusalem with graffiti decrying a “holocaust” in Gaza.
He was arrested twice earlier this month — the first time for spraying the slogan on the Western Wall and Jerusalem’s Great Synagogue, the second time for spraying the same words on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The suspect has not been named and reportedly suffers from mental health issues.
The suspected vandal, a 27-year-old resident of Jerusalem, was seen today holding a sign that read “There is a Holocaust in Gaza” and attempted to spray the same message on the sidewalk near the light rail stop across from Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station, police say.
A photo shows the words “There is a holocaust” sprayed on the ground in red paint.
The suspect tried to flee law enforcement by boarding an intercity bus that was departing from the station, but was stopped by security guards before the bus left, police add. He was handed over to Jerusalem District officers who arrested him and took him for interrogation.
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Sunday, August 31, 2025
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