8 Israelis arrested for spitting at churches in Jerusalem

Israeli police said Friday they arrested eight people for spitting at churches in Jerusalem’s Old City, as religious tensions threatened to flare in the contested capital.

Grainy security video released by the police showed two young Jewish men in a procession, who appeared to be spitting on the ground.

The police said they arrested both minors and adults, but did not specify their ages or names.

Clergy have said that attacks on church property in the Old City have worsened since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war Oct. 7, 2023.

The arrests come as the Old City gears up for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a holiday that could spark clashes.