Israel’s Jerusalem Magistrates Court delivered a controversial verdict this week, acquitting Yona Schreiber, 36, a Jewish man who shoved and kicked a French nun in the Old City. The judge ruled Schreiber was in a psychotic state at the time and therefore not criminally responsible, ordering a psychiatric stay of up to six years.
The incident was captured on CCTV, showing Schreiber leaping from behind an old stone block to push the nun as they walked together. His actions left her bruised and with a head injury, and the footage spread widely, inciting strong condemnation across social media.
The French Consulate in Jerusalem condemned the attack and the French Biblical and Archaeological School called it an act of sectarian violence. Israel’s foreign ministry denounced the assault, stressing that the country remains committed to religious freedom and coexistence in Jerusalem.
Experts warn that the event reflects a worrying rise in harassment of Christian clergy in the Old City, noting a pattern of spitting and aggression against those in Christian attire over the past few years. Reports from the Rossing Center, a Jerusalem‑based inter‑faith group, describe a “recent surge in overt animosity towards Christianity,” attributing it to growing polarisation and ultra‑nationalist politics.
The judge, Ofir Tishler, emphasised that while Schreiber’s assault could not be ignored, the mental health findings obliged the court to exercise compassion, recognising the complexity of criminal responsibility under severe psychiatric conditions.
The case highlights tensions surrounding religious tensions in Jerusalem’s city and the legal challenges of balancing justice with psychiatric care.
