In brief
In a trial that drew international condemnation, Jerusalem magistrates declared that Yona Schreiber, 36, was not criminally responsible for pushing a French nun while experiencing a psychotic episode. The court ordered a six‑year stay in a psychiatric facility. The incident, recorded on CCTV, highlights rising tensions between Jewish extremists and Christian clergy in the Old City and prompted strong statements from the Israeli foreign ministry and the French consulate. The case underscores the need for vigilant protection of religious freedom in Jerusalem while addressing mental health concerns in criminal liability.
A Jerusalem magistrates court has declared that the 36‑year‑old man who assaulted a French nun in the Old City was not criminally responsible, citing a psychotic episode.
The attacker, Yona Schreiber, was found by the court to be in a psychotic state at the time of the act and was ordered to be placed in a psychiatric hospital for up to six years.
Video footage captured on closed‑loop cameras shows the man reaching for the nun while she was walking, striking her from behind and kicking her. The nun suffered bruises after her head hit a stone block.
The incident has intensified concerns about harassment of Christian clergy and pilgrims by Jewish extremists in Jerusalem’s Old City, where cases of swearing and aggressive acts towards religious symbols have increased.
The French consulate in Jerusalem condemned the attack as a “shameful act” and the director of the French biblical and archaeological school described it as an act of sectarian violence.
The Israeli foreign ministry responded with a statement that the attack contradicted the nation’s commitment to respect, coexistence, and religious freedom, and that Jerusalem must remain a city where all faiths can practice freely and safely.
A 2025 report by the Rossing Center in Jerusalem noted a recent surge in overt hostility towards Christianity, attributing it to increased polarization and ultra‑nationalist trends.
