20 December 2012

Head Monk Father Claudio Papos (right) greets a Jewish protester of Price Tag terror attacks outside the Monastery of the Cross.

Last week the NIF supported Tag Meir coalition visited the monks of the Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem to light Hanukah candles together. The inter-faith celebration followed a shocking attack on the monastery by Price-Tag terrorists who daubed graffiti such as "Happy Hanukah – Jesus is a bastard" on the property and slashed car tires. More than 200 supporters attended the event some 12 hours after the attack was discovered.

Tag Meir was launched last Hanukah to mark the growing number of Price-Tag – referring to the price radical extremists exact in response to any government attempt to close down new settlements – attacks against Palestinians, Muslims, Christians, refugees, progressive Jewish voices, and even IDF bases. Over the past year Tag Meir has visited dozens of sites where mosques, churches, homes, and army bases have been torched, defiled, and vandalized to show the victims that the vast majority of Jews respect other faiths and peoples.

Head Monk Father Claudio Papos said, "Those who vandalized the monastery during the night under cover of darkness have no right to light Hanukah candles because they symbolize light and hope.

Tag Meir Chairman Dr. Gadi Gvaryahu said, "Israel's law enforcement bodies are not doing enough to eliminate the Price-Tag phenomenon and through their silence are nurturing Jewish terrorism. Regretfully politicians and rabbis are encouraging these acts and their support is not being condemned."