I am a Russian Orthodox monk living in Jerusalem, and I can vouch for the authenticity of the statement from the article about an increase in the incidences of Jews spitting when they see a Christian monk or pass a church. This happens much more this year than five years ago. Just yesterday, while waiting for a cab I saw a group of six or so young Jews each spit at the ground in front of the door to the Franciscan Garden of Gethsemane, and later as my parents and I looked at ancient ruins of the Cardo in the Old City, at least two Jews spit as they passed me. Two months ago as I walked up the stairs to the Cenacle on Mt. Sion, a 6 or 7 year old girl in the yeshiva repeatedly spit at me while TWO adult women in the children's play area watched.
Walking anywhere in the Old City, if one is around "pious" Jews and one is dressed in Christian religious clothing, one is more likely than not to hear or see spitting. "City of Peace"??? Hardly shows these days.