Condemning an incident that saw an ultra-Orthodox Jew spit on Christian worshippers in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday the Jewish state was “totally committed” to safeguarding the right of worship and pilgrimage for all faiths.

Israel is totally committed to safeguard the sacred right of worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all faiths.

I strongly condemn any attempt to intimidate worshippers, and I am committed to taking immediate and decisive action against it.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 3, 2023

Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen likewise condemned the incident, saying it was an “ugly phenomenon.”

“I condemn the ugly phenomenon of spitting on Christians and harming any person because of his religion or belief. This phenomenon does not represent the values ​​of Judaism,” Cohen wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“Freedom of religion and worship are fundamental values ​​in Israel,” the foreign minister stated. “Hundreds of thousands of Christian tourists come to Israel every year to visit the holy places for them and for us.”

“I call on all citizens of Israel to respect the tradition and faith of all who come to the gates of Jerusalem, the Holy City,” Cohen concluded.