Church attacks in Israel 'poison' before pope's visit, cleric says

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal waves to media before the religious service as part of an annual pilgrimage at a baptism site on Jordan River January 10, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

HAIFA Israel (Reuters) - The top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land said on Sunday a spate of attacks against the Church had poisoned the atmosphere ahead of this month's visit by Pope Francis, and urged Israel to crack down on the perpetrators.

Fourteen attacks by suspected far-right Israelis have been reported in the past year. Several have been carried out over the last month, including a death threat daubed in Hebrew at the Assembly of Bishops at the Notre Dame Center in East Jerusalem.