Israel puts Jewish extremists under house arrest for pope visit

JERUSALEM - Israel has decided to place under house arrest several Jewish extremists suspected of planning to disrupt Pope Francis's visit to the Holy Land this weekend, police said on Wednesday.

"The police and Shin Bet (security service) have taken out restraining orders against several right-wing activists who, according to information from Shin Bet, are planning to commit provocative acts during the pope's visit," police spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP.

Samri, who did not elaborate on what it was thought they intended to do, said the restraining order would apply for four days.

Media said three activists were to be put under house arrest on Thursday, two days before Francis arrives in the region. The Israeli army would back the measures.

Francis begins his visit to the Holy Land on Saturday when he flies to Amman and meets Syrian refugees before travelling to Bethlehem, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

He will meet with all the main Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian leaders, but only briefly.

There has been opposition from ultra-Orthodox Jews over perceived Vatican designs on holy sites in Jerusalem.

Israel, which will deploy an extra 8,000 police throughout Jerusalem for the pope's visit, has already strengthened security around Christian sites targeted in a wave of vandalism blamed on Jewish extremists.

Restriction orders have already been imposed on two students from a Jewish yeshiva, or seminary. at Mount Zion, where the pope is to celebrate mass Monday in the Cenacle, the reputed scene of Jesus' Last Supper.

Two gatherings of ultra-Orthodox Jews and nationalists have been held at the site, also known as the Upper Room, and another is scheduled for Thursday.

The lawyer for one of the activists said the restriction infringed on his client's right to freedom of expression.

"Israel is becoming a undemocratic country that silences protesters," Itamar Ben-Gvir told AFP.

On Sunday, Israel's top police vowed that Jewish extremists would not be allowed to spoil the pope's visit.

"There have been attempts here - principally as we get closer to the visit itself - by some extremists to try and make a provocation, and create a bad atmosphere before the visit," Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino told reporters.