Palestinian Committee Documents Decades of Attacks on Jerusalem Churches and Christians

Since the occupation of the eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967, church and law institutions have documented dozens of attacks on Christians, churches, and their property. These incidents occur within a continuing context of alleged violations by Israeli occupying forces and settlers, including the desecration of holy sites, attacks on clergy, and attempts to seize church property.

Documents from the High Presidential Committee for the Follow-up of Churches in Palestine indicate that these attacks are not isolated incidents but a pattern that has persisted for nearly six decades. The committee notes that the frequency of these events has escalated in recent years, with time series data showing systematic and frequent attacks that reached clear heights during 2023 and 2025.

The source material includes theological assertions regarding the rejection of Christianity by some Jewish groups, describing such views as considering Christian faith “Abed Othan” and rejecting it as “pagan.” It references ancient denials of the prophet Issa’s call for peace and notes that one individual reportedly informed the Romans of his location before he was brought to trial.

Among the most notable documented attacks from the past six decades is the 1967 conversion of the Mar Grace Orthodox Roman Church in the Shamaa neighborhood into a residential building by the Israeli army. In 1968 and 1969, settlers allegedly carried out two robberies inside the Church of the Ancestors in the Old City, targeting the statue of the Virgin Lady and stealing its jewelry and gems.

In 1970, occupying forces reportedly stormed the Kabatiya Patriarchate in the old town, assaulted monks, changed door locks, and prevented Copts from reaching the site. In 1973, settlers burned down the International Bible Centre on Mount Olives. In 1992, Israeli occupation authorities demolished the Church of the Roman Orthodox Monastery on Mount Olive, citing incomplete licensing procedures.

In 1995, settlers attempted to set fire to the Gemaythian Church on Mount Olive. In 1998, Israeli soldiers broke into the Jethani Church and shot two worshippers inside, while a monk was reportedly killed in the Shia Church on Mount Olive by settlers. In 2000, the occupation authorities demolished the Church of the Elevator on Mount Olives, citing a lack of building permits.

More recent incidents include 2012, when extremists wrote offensive slogans against Christians on the walls of a Baptist church west of Jerusalem. In 2015, settlers burned down the Church of Mount Zion south-west of the old town and made offensive expressions of Christianity on its walls. In 2020, a settler broke into the Gemaythian Church and poured fuel into its wooden seats in an attempt to burn them.

The persistence of these documented incidents over decades highlights the gravity of safeguarding religious communities and vulnerable populations. As Micah 6:8 calls for justice and mercy, the consistent record of harm against places of worship underscores the moral imperative to protect the dignity and safety of those who seek peace and worship, ensuring that accountability is pursued for those who threaten the well-being of neighbors and the sanctity of sacred spaces.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)