Jerusalem: Religious sister attacked in street

View of Jerusalem from Dominus Flevit church - Image ICN/JS

A 48-year-old French nun working at the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research in Jerusalem, is recovering from her injuries after she was attacked by a man on Tuesday, near the area of King David's Tomb on Mount Zion. A video shows the man running up behind her, pushing her to the ground, walking away, then returning to kick her before a passerby intervenes.

A photo released by Israeli police shows bruises on the right side of the sister's head.

The police announced on Wednesday that they had arrested a 36-year-old Jerusalem resident suspected of attacking the nun. They said law enforcement treats with "utmost seriousness" any act of violence "motivated by potential racist intent and directed against members of the clergy."

Father Olivier Poquillon, director of the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research in Jerusalem, wrote a message on X on Thursday, thanking "those who came to help during the attack, and also diplomats, academics, and all those who offered support."

The Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem expressed "deep shock" at the assault. They said in a statement: "This is not an isolated incident, but part of a troubling pattern of growing hostility toward the Christian community and its symbols."

Earlier this month, an Israeli soldier was filmed smashing a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon, triggering widespread outrage. The Israeli army later removed the soldier involved from combat duty and sentenced them to 30 days. See:

In the West Bank, settlers have in recent weeks increased attacks on Palestinian homes, land, livestock and businesses in the town of Taybeh, one of the last remaining majority-Christian towns in the territory.

A report issued month by the Rossing Centre for Education and Dialogue, a Jerusalem-based interfaith organisation, documented what it described as a "continued and expanding pattern of intimidation and aggression" against Christian communities - most visibly against clergy and church properties."

It recorded 155 incidents in 2025, including 61 physical assaults, 52 attacks on church property, 28 harassment cases and 14 incidents of defaced signage.

The report said these cases likely represent only a fraction of overall incidents, describing them as the "tip of the iceberg."

It said harassment is occurring in a "sociopolitical climate increasingly intolerant of diversity and more assertive in exclusivist national-religious claims", with Palestinian Christians particularly affected.

Separately, reports warn that Christian schools in Jerusalem face potential closure after Israel's Education Ministry barred teachers holding Palestinian-issued teaching permits from working in Israel. More than 200 Christian teachers are reportedly at risk of losing their jobs.

Watch a video of the attack: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Piesd5uQ_74

Rossing Centre: https://rossingcenter.org/