Israeli settler to stand trial over attack on French nun in Jerusalem

An Israeli settler accused of assaulting and injuring a French Catholic nun in Jerusalem is set to go on trial on a hate-motivated assault charge, according to Israel's justice ministry.

The suspect, Yona Simcha Schreiber, is alleged to have kicked and wounded the 48-year-old researcher near Mount Zion, just outside the Old City.

He has been in custody since 29 April, and prosecutors have asked that he remain detained until the trial.

The charge is assault resulting in injuries, motivated by hostility towards a religious group.

Surveillance footage from the scene reportedly shows a man rushing at the nun, pushing her to the ground and then returning to kick her before a passerby intervened.

The case has drawn condemnation from the French consulate in Jerusalem, which called for the suspect to be brought to trial.

Israel's foreign ministry also condemned the attack and said it remained committed to safeguarding freedom of religion and worship.

The incident matters because it has raised concern about hostility towards Christian symbols and communities in Jerusalem, a city with deep religious significance.

The Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said at the time that the attack was part of a troubling pattern.

#Jerusalem #Frenchnun #hatemotivatedassault #YonaSimchaSchreiber #MountZion