‘We won’t be deterred from loving Israel,’ ICEJ states before Jerusalem March

Protests against Christians are expected during the march

Ahead of the Jerusalem March on Wednesday, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) thanked the numerous politicians and rabbis who condemned the most recent incident of spitting at Christians.

Protests against Christians are expected during this year's procession, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of participants to the capital city during the Feast of Tabernacles.

The ICEJ is “grateful to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Chief Rabbis of Israel David Lau, and Yitzhak Yosef, and so many other Israeli leaders for their strong statements of support for religious freedom in this country and their disapproval of recent acts meant to humiliate or harm Christians,” the ICEJ said in a statement released on Wednesday.

On Monday, a video showing multiple ultra-Orthodox Jewish men and children demonstratively spitting on the ground in the direction of a Christian group of pilgrims went viral on the internet and drew wide condemnation.

Israel Police arrested a number of suspects in connection with the incident, Israeli media reported on Wednesday morning.

The ICEJ stressed that it would not be deterred from loving and supporting Israel, adding that "national delegations eagerly await today’s Jerusalem March."

The 68th Jerusalem March will feature global participants who are attending the ICEJ Feast of Tabernacles, the largest annual Evangelical Christian celebration in Israel, which brings thousands of tourists to Israel for an 8-day-long celebration over Sukkot.

The ICEJ acknowledged that the organization “must be the first to admit there is a much longer, painful history of Christian hostility towards the Jewish people.”

But it also stressed that most Israelis today are conscious of the “sea change in Christian attitudes concerning the nation and people of Israel,” and have therefore welcomed Christians warmly.

“We truly appreciate being able to share in the joy of this unique biblical festival with our Jewish friends and will not be deterred from loving and standing with Israel,” the statement added.

Calls to demonstrate against the Christian presence at the march were made by one of Jerusalem’s deputy mayors, Aryeh King, as well as former Jerusalem City Council member Mina Fanton.

Fanton called for and took part in a protest against the ICEJ Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening. King has been a leading figure in protests against Christians in the past.