The Veil of Tolerance: Israel’s Anti-Christian Problem Exposed

The physical assault on a French Dominican nun in East Jerusalem has brought into sharp focus the growing problem of anti-Christian sentiment in Israel. This incident is merely the tip of an iceberg that has been building for years, with Christian minorities facing increasingly brazen attacks.

At its core, this phenomenon reflects a deeper issue – one that speaks to the fault lines within Israeli society. Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein observed that spitting at Christians is not just an act of vandalism; it’s a symptom of a larger problem: the failure of certain insular Jewish communities to engage with modern Christian theology and its evolving attitudes towards Judaism.

The Religious Freedom Data Center has documented over 180 incidents in the past year alone, a staggering number that belies the notion that these attacks are isolated or minor. These incidents represent a disturbing escalation of anti-Christian sentiment, which is seeping into the streets of Jerusalem.

This trend’s timing is striking. As Goshen-Gottstein noted, spitting at Christians has a long and complex history – one rooted in centuries of Jewish persecution by Christian majorities. Yet, in modern Israel, where Jews have historically been a minority group, this behavior assumes a particularly egregious form.

Far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir’s statement that spitting at Christians is not a crime has emboldened those who would perpetrate such acts. The Israeli government’s silence in the face of these incidents speaks volumes about its willingness to tolerate, even enable, this kind of behavior.

Many Jews are complicit in this problem, either by remaining silent or actively encouraging intolerance. This inaction has far-reaching consequences for Christian minorities in Israel, who must navigate a precarious balancing act between their faith and the hostility they face on the streets of Jerusalem.

Incidents like these have been staged in front of Arab Christian homes – “maybe because they are Christian, maybe because they are Arabs,” as Hana Bendcowsky put it. The lack of clarity surrounding these motivations only serves to underscore the deeply ingrained prejudices that exist within Israeli society.

As the world watches this unfolding drama with growing concern, it’s imperative for Israel’s leaders to take a long-overdue stand against anti-Christian hate. They can no longer afford to shy away from acknowledging the reality of these incidents – or downplaying their significance as mere “isolated” events.

The international community has condemned this behavior, and rightly so. But it is Israel’s own citizens who must take responsibility for confronting this problem head-on. For too long, they have tolerated a culture of intolerance that threatens the very fabric of Israeli society.

As the Knesset holds emergency hearings on this issue, we are reminded of Father Aghan Gogchian’s words: “I call on the Israeli government to call these acts by their name: hate crimes.” It is time for Israel’s leaders to take a firm stance against this scourge – and acknowledge that these incidents are not just isolated aberrations, but rather symptoms of a deeper problem that requires immediate attention.

Ultimately, it will take more than words to address the anti-Christian problem in Israel. Sustained action from the government, civil society, and ordinary citizens is needed to stand up against this culture of hate. Only then can we begin to rebuild the veil of tolerance that has been so callously torn apart.