Top cop vows force to ensure ‘personal security’ of pilgrims after Christians spat at

Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai slams acts of religious bigotry in Jerusalem, amid rising harassment of Christian pilgrims and priests in the city.

“Any incident of hate on religious grounds is a stain that spoils the special holiday atmosphere throughout Israel and Jerusalem in particular,” Shabtai says in a statement released by police.

“Jerusalem is a symbol of all religions and will remain so,” the police chief adds, while vowing to ensure “the personal security of religious people at prayer and tourists of all religions.”

The statement does not mention discrimination toward Christians, following a pair of incidents this week in which religious Jews in Jerusalem’s Old City were filmed spitting at Christian worshippers. Police arrested five people earlier today over the latest incident.