Vandals spray-paint insults on Latrun monastery

Police believe offensive graffiti is part of radical settlers’ ‘price tag’ campaign

Anti-Christian graffiti was found on the door of the Monastery of the Silent Monks at Latrun early Tuesday morning. The vandals also apparently tried to burn the door.

Police believe the incident was part of radical settlers’ “price tag” campaign of vandalism.

According to the Ministry of Tourism website, the Trappist monastery served as a way station for pilgrims from Jaffa to Jerusalem in the 19th century. Until 1960, its articles included a vow to refrain from idle talk and to uphold silence at all times except during prayer.

The monastery sits across from a major museum of the IDF’s Armored Corps, in recognition of significant battles that took place there, along the main road to Jerusalem, during the War of Independence.