Man who attacked nun on CCTV in Jerusalem acquitted on grounds of mental health
An Israeli magistrate court ruled that Yona Schreiber, 36, had been experiencing a psychotic episode when he pushed and kicked a French nun in Jerusalem’s Old City, and therefore was not criminally responsible.
The prosecution wore the psychiatrist’s report, which stated Schreiber was not fit to stand trial, and the court ordered his transfer to a psychiatric hospital for a maximum of six years.
The maddening footage of the assault has led to public outrage and highlighted a surge in harassment of Christian clergy and pilgrims by extremist Jewish groups in the Old City.
Schreiber had previously been charged with an assault motivated against a religious group. The French consulate in Jerusalem condemned the act as “shameful” and reiterated Israel’s commitment to religious coexistence.
The French Biblical and Archaeological School’s director described the incident as a sectarian violence, while Israel’s foreign ministry emphasized the nation’s dedication to freedom of religion and the safety of all faiths within Jerusalem.
Recent reports from the Rossing Center note a concerning escalation of overt hostility toward Christianity, linked to increasing political polarisation and ultra‑nationalist trends.
Local church leaders accuse Israel of attempting to alter the status quo in holy places, amid ongoing disputes over ownership and responsibility.
