Israel Denies Charge That Catholic Holy Places Were Desecrated by Jewish Troops

A statement denying that Catholic Holy Places were desecrated by Israeli troops was issued here last night by the Israeli Ministry for Religious Affairs. The denial was apparently precipitated by a letter which the Catholic Near East Welfare Association in New York addressed to U.N. Secretary Trygve lie, asking that the United Nations investigate alleged desecrations of Catholic Holy Places in Palestine.

“Publication of the true position is deemed necessary to frustrate this clear attempt to disturb the good-will between the Israeli Government and the Catholic clergy in Israel,” the statement said. “Soon after the war broke out, when it was clear that the Holy Places might figure in battle zones, strict orders were issued to Israeli troops enjoining the utmost respect for places of holy contents and association of all religions and directing that every possible measure be taken to safeguard the lives of ecclesiastic personnel.

“It is a source of deep gratification that these orders have been substantially fulfilled. The isolated transgressions by irresponsible individuals, which are regretted, took place in the first weeks of fighting and military occupation before effective security control had been instituted. Most of the offenders have been apprehended and punished.

“One instance is the looting of sacred objects from the Greek Catholic Church in Jaffa. This incident received wide publicity abroad. Publicity, however, was not given to the fact that the persons responsible were arrested, court-martialed and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and that the stolen property was restored to the church. The restoration was acknowledged in a letter of thanks from the curate to the military commander in Jaffa.

“Other cases of looting in the Galilee area are now subject to investigation. Deliberate exaggeration of such minor occurrences tends to overshadow the basic fact that, in six months of warfare, Israeli military operations have not directly caused the destruction of any church or sanctuary or death or injury to any ecclesiastic. Nazareth is at present out of bounds to Israeli troops and appreciation of this gesture of respect for Christian feeling has been convoyed in person to the Minister of Religious Affairs by the Christian clergy,” the announcement said.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Consul-General in Jerusalem today expressed his thanks to the Israeli Ministry for Religious Affairs for the treatment accorded Spanish clergymen in Arab towns now under Israeli military occupation. The consul recently returned from a tour of Jaffa, Ramleh and Nazareth where Spanish clerics told him they were satisfied with the arrangements made for them by the Jewish authorities.