A 36-year-old man was arrested after attacking a French Catholic nun and archeological researcher on Mount Zion near the Cenacle site in Jerusalem. Video footage shows the attacker pushing the nun to the ground, causing her head to nearly hit a block of stone, then returning to kick her before bystanders intervened.
Key Takeaways
A 36-year-old man was arrested for attacking a French nun in Jerusalem, causing widespread condemnation. The incident occurred on Mount Zion near the Cenacle site. According to multiple reports: - A video captured the attacker pushing the nun to the ground and kicking her before bystanders intervened. - Israeli police stated they would take decisive action against such acts of violence. - The French Consulate condemned the attack, calling for justice. - The incident is part of a rise in harassment of Christian clergy in Jerusalem.
The Israeli police stated they treat any attack on members of the clergy with utmost seriousness and apply a policy of zero tolerance to all acts of violence. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of racially motivated assault, though no charges have been brought yet. According to multiple reports, the nun suffered facial injuries but was not seriously hurt.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from various parties. Israel’s foreign ministry called it a “shameful act” that contradicts the values of respect and religious freedom upon which Israel is founded. The French Consulate strongly condemned the attack and called for justice to be served. Father Olivier Poquillon, director of the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research in Jerusalem, where the nun works as a researcher, also denounced the act.
The attack has been noted as part of a troubling pattern of rising hostility towards Christian communities in Jerusalem. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem stated that this is not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader issue affecting Christians and their symbols. Incidents such as these have raised concerns about the future of historic Christian presence in the Holy Land.
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