An unprovoked attack on a French nun walking along a street in occupied East Jerusalem last week exemplifies a growing pattern of abuse and intimidation faced by Christians in the region, according to Al Jazeera. The roughly 180. 000 Christians living in Israel. And the 10. 000 or so in East Jerusalem, have seen an increase in incidents coinciding with Israel’s shift towards far-right nationalism.

Everyday Intimidation and Harassment

While violent incidents such as arson receive attention, daily experiences of spitting, insults, and graffiti have become commonplace for many Christians,mostly Palestinian—living in the area. These low-level but persistent acts have contributed to nearly half of the younger Christian community considering leaving.

The volunteer-run Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) reported 31 incidents of harassment against Christians in the first three months of the year, primarily involving spitting or defacing church property. Last year, the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue recorded 113 known attacks on individuals and church property in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, including 61 physical assaults targeting visible members of the clergy.

Political Shifts and Increased Tolerance for Intolerance

Hana Bendcowsky, programme director at the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations, noted a significant increase in incidents over the past three years. “Resentment toward Christianity existed in the past, but people did not dare express it openly,” she said. “The political atmosphere in Israel—where there is less concern about how the world perceives us,has led people to feel more comfortable harassing Christians.”

Bendcowsky added that the reduced concern about international reactions is also reflected in the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza and southern Lebanon. Analysts suggest that ultra-Orthodox and ultra-nationalistic Israelis are primarily responsible for most of the attacks on Christians.

Rabbi Arik Ascherman, an Israeli peace activist, told Al Jazeera, “The hate and attempt to harass non-Jews by some of the elements, particularly settler elements, knows no bounds.” He mentioned that actions range from spitting and harassment to government measures preventing churches from bringing in staff and clergy from abroad.

International Reactions and Lack of Confidence

Incidents are rarely reported, according to researchers, due to concerns over foreign visas, the desire to avoid drawing attention to the issue, and a profound lack of confidence in the state to take action. Bendcowsky stated, “There’s an absolute lack of confidence in the police. Unless an incident gains international attention, particularly in the US, it often goes uninvestigated or investigations are closed without any official conclusion.”

High-level international objections to attacks on Christians, especially from Israel’s principal backers in the United States, have typically prompted swift responses from the Israeli government. For example, after viral footage of Israeli soldiers destroying a Christian statue in southern Lebanon sparked international outrage, the Israeli prime minister’s office issued its own condemnation. In March, following backlash from world leaders, including pro-Zionist US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, over an incident involving the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, official apologies and clarifications were quickly issued.

However, Israeli military attacks on Christian churches in Gaza and Lebanon have only been acknowledged when international and specifically US sympathy for Israel risks being undermined. Shaiel Ben-Ephraim, an Israeli analyst, noted that the intolerance toward Christians is increasing and contributing to Israel’s growing unpopularity worldwide and in the US.

Ben-Ephraim added that this situation is making it more difficult for Christian supporters of Israel to reconcile their support for the country with its treatment of their co-religionists on the ground. “Older evangelicals may be forgiving, but the young are already turning against Israel,” he said. “This erodes the little support Israel has left.”