Polish nuns from the New Polish House in Jerusalem fell victim to increasing harassment. In recent weeks, there have been a series of incidents, including the smashing of bottles in front of the monastery of the Elizabethan Sisters in the ultraorthodox district of Me’a Sze’arim.
According to the Polish Embassy in Israel, nuns are regularly insulted, spit on and thrown in garbage, bottles and stones. The situation has been going on for several years, but in recent years it has become more pronounced.
Embassy intervenes
The embassy published a statement in which it strongly condemned the attacks:
"The repeated harassment of Polish nuns in the New Polish House in Jerusalem in recent weeks is unacceptable; it threatens people and property. Responsible persons must be held accountable. Effective prevention is a necessity."
The Polish authorities called on Israeli police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel to take decisive action.
District full of tensions
The harassment occurs in one of the most conservative districts of Jerusalem, inhabited by ultraorthodox Jews (haredim). In the past there have been similar incidents with Christians and pilgrims.
It is not yet known whether the perpetrators have been identified and whether the Israeli services have taken concrete steps in this regard.
Do you Poland should take more decisive diplomatic action? Let me know in the comments.
