In brief
A Jerusalem court has acquitted Yona Schreiber, 36, after CCTV footage showed him violently attacking a French nun in East Jerusalem. The magistrate ruled that Schreiber was in a psychotic state and therefore not criminally responsible, ordering up to six years in a psychiatric facility. The incident prompted condemnation from the French consulate and the Israeli foreign ministry, which emphasized Israel’s commitment to religious freedom. It also highlighted a rising trend of harassment of Christian clergy in the Old City by Jewish extremists. The case raises questions about how mental illness and sectarian violence intersect in Israel’s legal and social landscape.
Judicial acquittal after psychotic attack on a French nun in Jerusalem
In a rare judicial decision, a magistrate in Jerusalem has acquitted Yona Schreiber, 36, after video captured him violently assaulting a French nun in the Old City on 28 April. The court ruled that Schreiber was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the attack and was therefore not criminally responsible. He has been ordered to stay in a psychiatric hospital for up to six years.
The footage – grainy but unmistakable – shows Schreiber reaching back from behind and pushing the nun before she was hit on the head by a stone block. The victim sustained bruising to her face and leg. French authorities, including the consulate in Jerusalem, denounced the incident as a “shameful act” that contravenes the values of respect and religious freedom Israel claims to uphold.
Schreiber had been charged with an assault motivated by hostility toward a religious group. The pathologist’s report, accepted by the prosecution, concluded that he was “not substantively fit to stand trial”. The judge, Ofir Tishler, stated that although the assault was real, the mental illness warranted acquittal.
Israel’s foreign ministry emphasised that the country remains committed to safeguarding freedom of religion and worship for all faiths, noting that Jerusalem should remain a city where every community practises its faith in safety and dignity. The ministry also highlighted a trend of increased violence against Christian clergy and pilgrims in the Old City, citing instances of spitting and aggressive behaviour by Jewish extremists towards those wearing Christian symbols.
Experts say the incident is part of a wider surge in sectarian hostility. A 2025 report by the Rossing Center, a Jerusalem‑based organisation that promotes inter‑faith dialogue, attributes the rise to deepening polarization and ultra‑nationalist politics. The case also raises questions about Israel’s protective measures for religious minorities amid growing tensions.
