The birthplace of John the Baptist in Ein Karem, Jerusalem, was vandalized by extremist settlers, authorities and local sources reported.
Settler extremists spray-painted messages in Hebrew on the church's outer walls and on nearby vehicles. Slogans included "Revenge," "David, king of Israel lives and endures," "The (Jewish) messiah is here," and "Christians Out."
The incident has been attributed to extremist settlers or "radical fringe" elements. Officials noted this attack is part of a broader series of incidents targeting Christian places of worship in Jerusalem.
Israeli police opened an investigation and increased patrols around the site. Church authorities condemned the vandalism and began cleanup operations. No arrests were reported at the time of the update.
