Hundreds of Christians calling for the removal of the artwork, titled McJesus, protested at the museum in the northern city of Haifa last week.
Israeli police said demonstrators hurled a firebomb at the museum and threw stones that wounded three police officers.
Church representatives brought their complaints to the district court on Monday, demanding a suspension order for the exhibit's most offensive items, including Barbie doll renditions of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
גבר בן 32 נעצר ועוד ארבעה גברים עוכבו לחקירה בהפגנה מול מוזיאון חיפה, במחאה על תערוכה פוגענית ברגשות הציבור הנוצרי. המשטרה פיזרה את ההפגנה בכוח, תוך כדי שימוש ברימוני הלם. כמו כן, שלושה שוטרים נפצעו בראשם במהלך ההפגנה ופונו לקבלת טיפול רפואי @10elilevi @samiaah10 pic.twitter.com/1iO1BRjFfL
— חדשות עשר (@news10) January 11, 2019
Israeli culture minister Miri Regev, who has pushed for legislation mandating "loyalty" in art, has also called for the removal of the offending artwork.
The museum has refused to bow to pressure, saying that doing so would infringe on freedom of expression.
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