About us

This website has been built in response to the sad reality of recurrent acts of violence against clergy and pilgrims, as well as religious edifices and symbols in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Such transgressions, and especially spitting, are assault offenses and violate the sanctity of the city and the entire Holy Land.

In the absence of documentation, institutions and the public at large find it easy to ignore or marginalize the phenomenon. This website aims to document all such incidents, bring them to the attention of the relevant institutions, and demand they use the means and measures at their disposal to redress them.

We have the blessing of the heads of the churches in Jerusalem, and we now seek your assistance in reporting if, unfortunately, you have been a victim of an assault or witnessed one.

For an assault incident report fill the following form: 

with blessing of
"Peace be within thy walls, and security within thy palaces"

✉️ report.hotline.jlm@gmail.com 

📞 052-5554008 

Recent Updates

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Spitting during monthly processions around the Temple Mount, in an event called: "Sivuv Shearim" (circumventing the Gates)

February 2, 2025

A march around the gates of the Temple Mount is held every month on the night of the New Jewish Month. On the night of the last march (the Jewish month of Shevat, 29-1-2025), volunteers of the Hotline joined the crowd to document what is happening regarding the spitting. We heard about this phenomenon from the Christians who live along the streets of the old city, but it was important for us to witness it ourselves and to document what was happening.

The event was secured by hundreds of policemen, and the streets, through which the procession passed through the Muslim quarter, were blocked off for non- Jews. The event lasted two whole hours with songs played with portable speakers, prayers, sermons, and blowing of trumpets. The event was well organized by adults, and had a remarkable number of youngsters, children and families.

The Hotline volunteers counted over thirty spitting on church doors along Via Dolorosa Street.   Ten incidents were documented on camera. Few of the videos were shown on a TV report on Channel 13. In it, Yisca Harani is interviewed on the subject.

The TV report is attached. 

A Tour for Researchers from the Jewish People Policy Institute on Harassment of Christians in the Old City

January 14, 2025

About thirty researchers from the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) participated in a tour of the Old City with Yisca Harani to learn about the phenomenon of harassment of Christians and the work of the hotline addressing these issues. The tour followed several months of research and engagement on the topic led by Prof. Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, who oversees research on Jewish-Christian relations in Israel.

The tour focused on two problematic streets in terms of the frequency of harassment against Christians: Armenian Patriarchate Street and Via Dolorosa. During the visit, participants met with victims of harassment, including residents of the quarter and monks, as well as a police officer working on the issue.

The institute's members expressed their gratitude for the tour and their sense of responsibility to address the matter. At the end of the visit, the institute's head, Prof. Yedidia Stern, summarized by saying: "A society is measured by its treatment of minorities. It is our duty to strive for proper and respectful relations."

We extend our thanks to Prof. Michal Bar-Asher Siegal and Prof. Yedidia Stern for their initiative in exploring this issue and their determination to help us address it.

The visit of the hotline volunteers to the village of Fassuta

January 4, 2025

On January 4, 6 volunteers of the RFDC visited the village of Fassuta, where there was an attack on the statue of the BVM and the statue of Santa Claus by a Jew on 20.12.24. Abuna Michael, the priest of the village, received our words of solidarity and our gifts. 

We met Razi Shahla, the young man who heroically brought to the arrest of the suspect. The meeting was cordial and hopeful, and we were happy that they accepted that our lawyers would represent this case. The visit was posted on the village's Facebook:

RFDC October – December 2024 report - Published

January 1, 2025

Despite the unmeasurable violence on all fronts, and the sufferings that region is undergoing, we remain committed to our goals. Our volunteers do not cease to show their commitment to the cause of protecting the rights of members of all denominations to personal security, dignity, and religious freedom. 

This report would not have been possible without their dedication, motivated by hope that change is possible: through raising awareness, engaging the police and judicial system, building alliances, and – in the long run – educating towards tolerance and mutual respect.

Greetings to the Christians in Israel and worldwide

December 24, 2024

Anticipating Christmas and the New Year, we designed a special postcard, in which we wish: May the coming year be one in which you will reach out to us to share news of joyful events, deeds of kindness, caritas et amor. 

From: Yisca Harani, the Religious Freedom Data Center and the hotline's volunteers.

Our Reports