Jerusalem Mayor Opens Forum on Harassment of Christians, Vows 'Zero Tolerance'

JERUSALEM —

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion has launched a city forum to deal with harassment of Christians, telling church leaders gathered at Jerusalem City Hall that the city will have “zero tolerance for religiously motivated harassment,” All Israel News reported Nov. 6.

The new Forum for Partnership with Christian Communities is a joint effort of Jerusalem City Hall and the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI). The mayor chairs it. Heads of Jerusalem's Christian churches attended the first meeting, along with senior Israel Police officials, Justice Ministry representatives, civil society groups and the Vatican's ambassador to Israel, the outlet said.

Michal Bar-Asher Siegal of JPPI, who started the forum, said it will take four steps: meet twice a year, open direct lines between the authorities that handle harassment cases, form a working group to push for laws that make it easier to prosecute offenders, and build school programs that teach Jerusalem as a city shared by several faith communities. “There is a lot of work ahead. But today was a very, very good beginning,” she said.

Yisca Harani, who founded the Religious Freedom Data Center three years ago, runs a hotline where Christians can report harassment. According to the outlet, 181 incidents were reported through the hotline last year. Harani said the reports were laid out on the round table at the mayor's office during the meeting.

Harani said her group has hundreds of Jewish Israeli volunteers who wear yellow vests during Christian processions in the city. All Israel News also noted the case of an Egyptian Coptic monk who reported being humiliated during an airport security check.

What we don't know yet: The details come from All Israel News, which drew on social media posts by Bar-Asher Siegal and Harani. Watchman News did not find an official city statement on the forum, and the date of its next meeting has not been announced.