SW News: The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land's Justice and Peace Commission urged an end to the attacks against Christian clergy, churches, and holy places particularly in Jerusalem and Haifa.

Catholic bishops criticized in a statement that extremist Jews are responsible for physical violence, acts of vandalism, and graffiti on the walls.

The authors of the statement lamented that law enforcement officials hardly ever apprehend the perpetrators of these attacks and even less frequently hold them accountable. In the statement, they note that while the State of Israel repeatedly states that it guarantees all its citizens the freedom to practice religion, it is incomprehensible that such displays of contempt are allowed to continue.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported on its website that nothing can stop Jerusalem from becoming the national symbol of the two peoples who claim it as their capital due to its uniqueness and unity. Israelis and Palestinians should come to a deal that at least partially satisfies their genuine ambitions and upholds the rules of justice. Unanimous actions that alter the city's current layout will not be beneficial; instead, they will simply increase tensions and eliminate any chance of achieving peace.

The website stated that Jerusalem is revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims, but it is also revered by many other nations who regard it as their spiritual capital and travel there as pilgrims to worship and interact with other believers.

At his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis condemned the violence and called for peace and reconciliation. He called on the international community to intervene and find solutions through dialogue and a sincere pursuit of peace.

This was in the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Holy Land, following recent violence in Jenin due to an Israeli military attack.

Meanwhile, at least five people were killed and seven injured in violent clashes that erupted on Sunday in Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp near the southern port city of Sidon.