The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned what it described as a “vicious and wicked assault” against a French nun in occupied Jerusalem last Tuesday, calling on Israeli authorities to ensure such attacks do not recur.
Bishop William Shomali, the Latin Patriarchal Vicar General, said the assault was not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern of attacks targeting clergy, Christians, and pilgrims—particularly around the Tomb of King David and Mount Zion.
He attributed the violence to “a small, ideologically driven group filled with hatred,” rooted in “religious racism and a distorted upbringing that treats the different as an enemy.”
Shomali said the nun volunteers at the Dominican Fathers’ Library, one of Jerusalem’s leading biblical research institutions, and was attacked “for no reason other than being a nun.”
She suffered bruises, filed a police complaint, and was later taken to hospital. Although she has resumed her routine, she continues to experience psychological trauma. “The attack was wicked and brutal,” he said.
Fred Jebran, Advisor for Public and Government Affairs at the Latin Patriarchate, told the U.S.-based Catholic news outlet Crux that the assault was “a disgusting and brutal hate crime committed against a peaceful nun,” stressing the need for accountability and effective deterrence.
Israeli police released video footage Thursday evening showing a man, later identified 36‑year‑old Jewish Israeli man, Yonah Schreiber, running after the nun, pushing her to the ground, and kicking her before being restrained by passersby. Police said they opened an investigation and arrested a 36‑year‑old suspect.
Police stated they view violence “that may be racially motivated and directed against members of the clergy” with the “utmost severity.”
Dominican Father Olivier Poquillon, Director of the French Biblical and Archaeological School, said the 48‑year‑old nun was attacked near the Cenacle—the site of the Last Supper.
He told AFP that she “felt someone approach from behind and push her violently against a rock,” after which the assailant “began kicking her repeatedly.” He condemned the assault as an “unprovoked attack” and “an act of sectarian violence.”
The French Consulate General in Jerusalem wished the nun a swift recovery and called for justice.
The assault follows international outrage over footage showing an Israeli soldier smashing the head of a statue of Jesus Christ in the Lebanese town of Dabl.
