On April 28, 2026, a French-born Catholic nun, a 48-year-old researcher at the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem (École Biblique), was violently assaulted near the Cenacle (the site traditionally associated with the Last Supper and King David's Tomb) on Mount Zion, just outside Jerusalem's Old City. CCTV footage released by Israeli police shows a cowardly man running up behind her, shoving her to the ground, and kicking her as she lay on the pavement. She sustained bruises to her head and other injuries. Bystanders intervened, and police quickly arrested a 36-year-old suspect named Yonah Schreiber.
Israeli authorities described the incident as a suspected "racially motivated assault." The attacker was a Jewish Israeli man, with reports identifying him in connection with settler or ultra-Orthodox extremist circles. Israeli officials, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the act as "shameful" and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting freedom of worship. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Faculty of Humanities called it part of a "troubling pattern of growing hostility toward the Christian community."
This unprovoked attack is not isolated. Christians in Jerusalem and Israel, particularly clergy and pilgrims identifiable by their garments or symbols, face frequent harassment. Reports document spitting, verbal abuse, physical assaults, and vandalism, primarily from ultra-Orthodox Jewish extremists who view Christian symbols as idolatrous.
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| Attacker Yonah Schreiber, 36 |
Broader Pattern of Attacks on Christians
Organizations like the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue track these incidents. Their reports show a rise: 111 cases in 2024 and 155 in 2025, though they note this is likely "the tip of the iceberg." Physical attacks (spitting, hitting, pepper spray) form the majority, alongside vandalism of church property (graffiti, damaged statues, arson, garbage dumping).
Recent examples include:
- IDF soldier vandalizing a crucifix (April 2026): In the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon, an Israeli soldier used a sledgehammer or axe to smash the head of a Jesus statue/crucifix. The IDF confirmed the incident, condemned it as a "moral failure," investigated, detained soldiers, and replaced the statue. It drew widespread condemnation from Israeli leaders, church officials, and the U.S.
- Attacks on the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City, including settlers spitting on crosses, icons, and monasteries (e.g., June 2025 incident at the Armenian Convent).
- Spitting and harassment of clergy in the Old City, often by young ultra-Orthodox Jews. Incidents surged around religious holidays.
- Vandalism of Christian cemeteries (e.g., ~30 gravestones desecrated on Mount Zion in early 2023, with ongoing reports).
- Arson and attacks on churches in the West Bank, such as the 2025 fire at St. George Church in the Christian town of Taybeh.
While Muslim extremists have also targeted Christians in the region (e.g., in Gaza or broader Middle East contexts), in Israel and East Jerusalem, documented trends point predominantly to Jewish extremist perpetrators. Israeli police sometimes respond, but critics argue enforcement is inconsistent, and some politicians have downplayed spitting as a "tradition."
Evangelical Claims vs. Reality: Israel as an "Ally" to Christians?
Many Evangelical Christians, particularly Christian Zionists in the U.S., strongly support Israel as a biblical ally and fulfillment of prophecy (e.g., the return of Jews to the Holy Land preceding end-times events). Groups like Christians United for Israel emphasize shared Judeo-Christian values, strategic partnership against common threats, and Israel's role as the "only democracy" in the Middle East that protects religious freedom.
However, Palestinian Christians and Catholic/Orthodox leaders in the Holy Land often highlight a disconnect. They report feeling squeezed by occupation policies, settler violence, and restrictions, while noting that Christian populations in Israel and the West Bank have declined significantly over decades. Critics argue unconditional Evangelical political and financial support overlooks or enables these abuses against fellow Christians. Palestinian pastors, like those in Bethlehem, have publicly questioned why Western Evangelicals prioritize geopolitical alignment over solidarity with local believers facing daily harassment.
This tension raises important questions about alliances: Can Israel be considered a reliable protector of Christian communities when incidents like the nun's attack and crucifix desecration recur, even as officials condemn them?
A Call for Greater Protection and Dialogue
The attack on the French nun should prompt reflection. Jerusalem is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. True coexistence requires robust protection for all faiths, swift justice for attackers regardless of background, and honest dialogue that transcends political narratives. Christians worldwide—Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant—should advocate for the safety of their brothers and sisters in the Holy Land without excusing violence from any side.
Pray for peace in Jerusalem and the safety of all who call the Holy Land home.
News Reports and Sources:
- AP News: Israeli police arrest man in nun attack (https://apnews.com/article/israel-jerusalem-nun-attack-christians-3844675fc3af27c56b10a2ac1aaddbc1)
- Vatican News: Suspect arrested over attack on French nun (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-05/jerusalem-attack-nun-israel-police-religious-sister.html)
- Reuters/Times of Israel on IDF crucifix incident (April 2026 reports)
- Rossing Center Annual Reports on Attacks on Christians (https://rossingcenter.org/)
- Catholic Herald and America Magazine coverage of the nun assault
