Israeli police arrest Jewish suspect over church vandalism

A Jewish youth suspected of scrawling anti-Christian graffiti at a famous Jerusalem church has been arrested, after the vandalism case was given top priority. 

The 16-year-old was arrested just two days after the vandalism was discovered at the Dormition Abbey, where Christian tradition says the Virgin Mary, Jesus' mother, ended her earthly life, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said on Wednesday.

Nikodemus Schnabel, the Dormition Abbey spokesman, said the graffiti bore "very radical messages".

The graffiti included threats of violence, messages degrading Jesus and a call for Christians to "go to hell".

It's a swifter-than-usual Israeli arrest in a case involving suspected Jewish extremist vandalism on Christian property.

The Dormition Abbey, a Benedictine monastery just outside Jerusalem's Old City, has been the target of multiple attacks in recent years.

Israel's Minister of Public Security, Gilad Erdan, said he instructed police to give the vandalism case top priority.

The suspect is believed to be from the same group of extremists who have carried out a spate of similar attacks in recent years in retaliation to so-called Palestinian attacks, or to protest against what they perceive as pro-Palestinian policies by the government.

Jewish extremists have for years vandalised Palestinian property, as well as mosques, churches, the offices of Israeli peace groups - and even Israeli military bases.

The "price tag" attacks, as they have been dubbed, seek to exact a cost for Israeli steps seen as favouring the Palestinians.

The attacks have prompted widespread condemnation and pledges by Israel's government to get tougher on Jewish vigilantes.