Credits:

00:02 Report by / Jan-Philipp Scholz
00:13 Nikodemus Schnabel / Dormitio Abbey, Jerusalem
01:02 Hana Bendcowsky / Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue
02:20 Nikodemus Schnabel / Dormitio Abbey, Jerusalem

Script:

When Nikodemus Schnabel leaves his monastery in Jerusalem, he has learned to be ready  for anything: every day, people spit in front of him and insult him,  

SOT Nikodemus Schnabel, Dormitio Abbey Jerusalem, Engl. 
"Soldiers are spitting, too. In uniform! This is, you know, people in uniform spitting on you. What shall I say?"

A recent video of a nun ((April 28, 2026)) attacked in broad daylight has caused widespread shock. Many Christians in Jerusalem say that intimidations and harassment have become commonplace. ((video Nikodemus Februar 2024))

SOT Nikodemus Schnabel, Dormitio Abbey, Engl. 
"As a young monk, they were spitting on me in the nighttime, you know, in dark alleys, without witnesses. Because they knew, if I attack a monk, it's not accepted. Now, it's during daylight."

Israeli organizations report a sharp rise in violent attacks on Christians. At the same time, initiatives promoting interfaith dialogue are coming under increasing pressure.

SOT Hana Bendcowsky, Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue, Engl.
"The vast majority of Israelis think it's very severe incidents and these people have to be punished. But there's not enough condemning from the authorities, from the government, from the politicians. It’s even the opposite: They're inflaming and inciting the atmosphere!"

Critics say that Prime Minister Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners in particular are fueling the tension. Also Ultranationalist politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, currently Security Minister, has repeatedly downplayed the attacks on Christians and in the past even justified them. 

As a result, fear is spreading in Jerusalem's Christian Quarter. Many residents refuse to speak publicly.

Voxpops, Engl. 
F: "We are afraid and we are left alone. We are girls - nobody would help."
M: "There will be more and more of the problems. Nobody is trying to solve these problems."
M: "We don't have much hope anymore. Our only hope is that our children get better education than we did, so they can find their future somewhere else."

Many here say they remember when the city was proud to be a holy place for many religions. But those times appear to be over. A recent study found that half of Christians under 45 are considering leaving.

SOT Nikodemus Schnabel, Dormitio Abbey, Engl.
"We know how badly we treated Jews and we also see the really rising phenomenon of anti-semitism. But this is not an excuse not to look at the realities here on the ground."

Abbot Nikodemus hopes that Jerusalem will continue to have room for Jews, Christians and Muslims. But for that to happen, he says the world must pay attention.

END