Man who attacked nun on CCTV in Jerusalem acquitted on grounds of mental health
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- An Israeli court acquitted Yona Schreiber, who attacked a French nun in Jerusalem's Old City, ruling he was in a psychotic episode and not criminally responsible, ordering psychiatric hospitalization for up to six years.
- The attack, caught on CCTV, sparked widespread condemnation amid rising harassment of Christian clergy and pilgrims by Jewish extremists in East Jerusalem.
- The French Biblical and Archaeological School described the assault as "sectarian violence," while Israel's foreign ministry condemned the act and reaffirmed its commitment to religious freedom and coexistence.
- Although physical attacks are rare, there has been an increase in aggressive behavior by some religious Jews towards Christians in Jerusalem, including spitting, vandalism, and disputes over church property and settler activities.
- Church leaders accuse Israel of attempting to alter the status quo regarding ownership and responsibilities of holy sites, leading to ongoing tensions in the Old City.
