Israel: Alarming Rise in Anti-Christian Acts
A report documents 83 anti-Christian incidents in Israel over three months, including spitting and assaults, primarily in Jerusalem's Old City where Christian symbols are notably absent.
A disturbing wave of anti-Christian incidents has swept through Israel in recent months, with 83 documented acts of harassment against Christian communities recorded in just three months between April and June, according to a report published by the Religious Freedom Data Center.
The vast majority of these incidents occurred in broad daylight, frequently in the Old City of Jerusalem, one of Christianity’s holiest sites, as Valeurs Actuelles reports. The documented acts include spitting, physical assaults, verbal abuse, threats, vandalism, and garbage being thrown into monastery courtyards.
The incidents peaked during the Jewish holidays of Shavuot and Yom Yerushalayim, during the Flag March, and during the procession marking the entry of the new apostolic nuncio. On April 28, a nun was pushed to the ground on Mount Zion. The Religious Freedom Data Center’s study indicates that perpetrators are acting with growing arrogance and boldness, showing no fear of consequences for their actions.
Christian Presence Erased from Public Space
The report also highlights the near-total absence of Christian symbolic representation in Jerusalem’s public spaces, despite the overwhelming presence of Jewish symbols throughout the city. From the municipal complex to the Jaffa Gate, posters, holiday greetings, and projections celebrate exclusively Jewish history and tradition.
Given that the Old City contains two Christian quarters, the Religious Freedom Data Center argues it would be equally appropriate for the Christian presence to receive visible representation in the public sphere.
Support Services Established for Victims
In response to the escalating situation, the organization has established an accompaniment service for clergy and religious personnel, supported by the Israel Religious Action Center and the Jewish People Policy Institute. Volunteers assist victims in filing complaints and follow cases of property damage through to resolution.
Profanations Extend Beyond Israel’s Borders
The attacks have not remained confined to Israeli territory. The report documents the destruction of a statue of Jesus and the desecration of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon in April, calling on the Israeli military to improve education for its soldiers regarding Christian sites and communities.
Reports of mockery by military personnel have already prompted the distribution of an information document intended for guides accompanying groups of soldiers in Jerusalem. Similar issues affect school visits, with thousands of Israeli student groups traveling to Jerusalem annually with no preparation regarding the living Christian presence in the city. These encounters frequently become sources of hostility.
The Religious Freedom Data Center has called for coordinated educational efforts involving ministries, tour organizers, and tourist guides to address the problem.
Long-Standing Trend Intensifies
This troubling pattern is not new. A study by the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue had already documented a continuous increase in intimidation and assaults against clergy and Church property within the Hebrew State for 2025.
The surge in violence against Christian communities occurs within a broader context of hardening nationalist and religious discourse in Israel, marked by the growing assertiveness of movements favoring settlement and annexation policies. On Sunday, thousands of Israelis, including settlers and right-wing activists, marched toward the border with the Gaza Strip to call on the government to reestablish settlements in Palestinian territory.
With information from Valeurs Actuelles
