JERUSALEM — A Christian of Jewish origin who has been attacked on the streets of Jerusalem four times because of his faith in Christ is seeking police protection.
Jerusalem resident Yossi Yomtov said police have been slow to investigate hate crimes against him by youths wearing “kippahs,” cloth skullcaps typically worn by observant Jews. In two of the attacks, a youth plied him with pepper spray and stun gun shocks, he said.
“This young man cursed me for my belief in Christ,” Yomtov said. “He used ugly curses and spoke in highly abusive language.”
Yomtov, who founded the social activist group Lemallah, which means “upward,” after moving to Israel from the United States in 1999, said he was last attacked Dec. 19. Regarding himself as a Jewish Christian belonging to no one church, he does not belong to the highly organized movement of Messianic Jews. On Oct. 12, a group of youths attacked him with stun guns, he said, adding that although police said they would investigate, there has been no progress. Police in Jerusalem declined to comment.
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