Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem have experienced a significant increase in attacks, according to a new report by the Jerusalem-based Rossing Center.
The report, titled Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem, highlighted a disturbing rise in incidents ranging from spitting and physical harassment to property damage and the disruption of religious services.
The report documented a worrying trend in 2023, particularly in Jerusalem's Old City, where Christian communities have faced escalating hostility.
The attacks included severe property damage and physical assaults, often targeting churches and clergy.
Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Hana Bendcowsky from the Rossing Center detailed the challenges Christians face, categorising the issues into two types: “smash” and “squeeze,” terms commonly used by human rights observers.
"The ‘smash’ describes incidents such as the attack on the Church of the Flagellation, where a statue was smashed with a hammer," Bendcowsky explained. These violent acts are often perpetrated by marginalized young ultra-Orthodox Jewish men with hardline nationalist views.
However, she emphasised that such behavior is not representative of the wider ultra-Orthodox community.
The “squeeze” involves more subtle forms of harassment, such as spitting on priests or nuns, or verbally harassing them in public. “The community is shaken, and it feels uncomfortable,” Bendcowsky said.
Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel of the Benedictine Dormition Abbey in East Jerusalem confirmed that spitting incidents have become a daily reality for many Christians. "Unfortunately, spitting harassment is part of my daily life," he said. "As a monastery, we have also faced arson attacks, hate graffiti, and broken windows, and it is growing and growing."
Bendcowsky suggested that spitting has long been an issue, but modern technology has made it easier to document these incidents, providing more evidence of the problem.
However, she believes the 30 recorded incidents last year likely represent only a fraction of what is happening on the ground.