Christians in Jerusalem Face Rising Attacks as Ultranationalism Grows
Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem are reporting a sharp rise in harassment and physical attacks in 2026. The Religious Freedom Data Center logged 31 incidents in the first three months of the year alone. Researchers link the trend to growing ultranationalism in Israeli politics.
Christians living in Israel and East Jerusalem say attacks and harassment have become a regular part of daily life in 2026.
The volunteer-run Religious Freedom Data Center recorded 31 incidents of harassment in just the first three months of the year. Most involved spitting, insults, or defacing church property. The Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue tracked 113 attacks in 2025, including 61 physical assaults on clergy such as monks, nuns, and priests.
A recent assault on a French Catholic nun in East Jerusalem drew fresh attention to the problem. Israeli settler Yona Simcha Schreiber has been charged in connection with that attack.
Hana Bendcowsky of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations said resentment toward Christianity is not new, but people now feel free to express it openly. She pointed to a political climate shaped by far-right and ultra-Orthodox factions within the current Israeli government.
About 180,000 Christians live in Israel, with roughly 10,000 in East Jerusalem. Many are Palestinian. Advocates say most incidents go unreported because victims distrust the police and fear consequences for their residency status.
International pressure, particularly from the United States, has historically prompted Israeli authorities to investigate specific cases. But advocates say systemic change has not followed.
