Hate incidents against Christians in Israel have risen in the third quarter of 2026, according to a religious liberty watchdog.
The latest report from the Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) records “106 acts of harassment in 96 incidents” against Christians reported to its hotline between July and September. More than 90% of incidents happened in Jerusalem, with more than half taking place on one road, Armenian Patriarchate Street.
It is an increase from 83 acts in 76 incidents in the second quarter and 44 acts in 31 incidents in the first quarter of the year. The RFDC states the holiday period could have led to the rise, around the time of Selichot and Tishrei.
Spitting accounted for nearly three-quarters (73%) of acts of harassment. The RFDC report states: “In informal conversations with clergy, we repeatedly hear the statement: ‘Not a week goes by without someone spitting at me.’ We therefore estimate that dozens of additional spitting incidents occur each month; without reporting, documentation, or action to counter them, such acts become established as a norm among perpetrators."
“In some cases, perpetrators justified their actions to RFDC volunteers - and on camera - as being consistent with religious injunctions,” the report added.
It reports that clergy have stopped wearing religious clothing when leaving their institutions, covering up necklaces with crosses.
Other incidents recorded involved verbal abuse (8%), physical assault (5%), throwing objects (4%), defacement of signage and vandalism (both 3%).
RFDC stated: “In the absence of visible representation of the Christian presence, we repeatedly encounter cases in which Jews, surprised to discover Christians in the city, react inappropriately. The exclusion of the Christian presence from Jerusalem's public representation is a matter of concern, and responsibility for addressing it rests with the Jerusalem Municipality.”
The body describes itself as “Israel’s largest volunteer network providing real-time assistance to the Christian community in cases of harassment”, committed to working for “peaceful coexistence” and safeguarding “the dignity of the Christian community and protecting freedom of religion and worship and Israel”.
George Deek, a member of the Arab Christian community in Jaffa, was appointed as Israel’s first special envoy to the Christian world earlier this year. Announcing the appointment, foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said: “The State of Israel attaches great importance to its relations with the Christian world and with its Christian friends around the world. I am confident that George, a respected and experienced diplomat, will greatly contribute to the friendship and strengthening of the ties between the State of Israel and the Christian world.”
In an interview with The Jerusalem Post in July, Deek said that Israel has created a state where Arab Christians can “preserve their faith and identity while participating fully in the life of the state”, but that more needed to be done to “invest in Christian towns and institutions, confront crime and discrimination, protect Christian holy sites, and respond firmly to every act of harassment or religious hatred.”