Footage of an attack on a French Catholic nun and an archaeological researcher in Jerusalem sparked widespread outrage, with Israel’s Foreign Ministry denouncing the act as “shameful.” The assailant, believed to be Jewish, forcefully pushed the nun to the ground and kicked her as she lay injured, only stopping when a passerby intervened. Though she suffered some facial injuries, they were not serious.
Israeli police arrested the 36-year-old attacker, asserting their commitment to protect all citizens in Jerusalem. The attack occurred near Mount Zion and the Cenacle, significant to both Jewish and Christian traditions. The French Consulate General condemned the violence, calling for justice against the aggressors.
Father Olivier Poquillon, director of the French School of Biblical Archeology, emphasized the need for a strong response, highlighting the incident’s connection to a broader trend of hostility towards Christians in the region. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem noted the attack as reflective of increasing harassment of Christian communities, framing it as an attack on the academic world.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its commitment to coexistence and respect for all faiths, although the ruling coalition has faced criticism for fostering rising religious nationalism. Incidents of harassment against Palestinian Christians have risen, with a religious network documenting 31 such occurrences in the early months of the year, suggesting that many go unreported.
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