In brief
An Israeli magistrates court reviewed CCTV footage of a man pushing a French nun in Jerusalem’s Old City and found that the attacker was suffering from a psychotic episode. The court acquitted him, deeming him not criminally responsible, and ordered his confinement in a psychiatric hospital. The incident, which drew widespread condemnation and heightened concerns about rising sectarian violence in the city, underscored Israel’s stated commitment to protecting religious freedom.
In Jerusalem’s Old City, a French nun was pushed and kicked by a 36‑year‑old Jewish man, Yona Schreiber, an act captured on public surveillance cameras. The footage gained immediate media attention and sparked outrage both locally and internationally.
A magistrate’s court later reviewed the evidence and a psychiatric report, which indicated that Schreiber was in a psychotic state at the time of the attack. The judge concluded that he was not criminally responsible and ordered him to stay in a psychiatric hospital for up to six years. The court’s decision was supported by the prosecution, which had requested a full acquittal and psychiatric commitment.
The nun, who was a researcher at the French Biblical and Archaeological School, sustained bruises to her face and leg after falling onto a stone block. She criticised the assault as an “act of sectarian violence.” Her French Consulate in Jerusalem condemned the attack and reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to religious freedom.
The incident sits against the backdrop of growing tensions in Jerusalem, where reports of harassment toward Christian clergy and vandalism of church property have increased. A 2025 report by the Rossing Center highlighted a surge in anti‑Christian sentiment, tracing it to political polarization and ultra‑nationalist movements.
International observers note that while the attack itself was partly due to mental health, the surrounding context raises concerns about sectarian dynamics in one of the world’s most contested cities. Israel’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, reinforced its stance that Jerusalem should remain a place of safety, coexistence and freedom of worship for all faiths.
