Italian FM Urges Israel to 'Guarantee Religious Freedom' After Jerusalem Assault

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday urged Israeli authorities to guarantee religious freedom in Jerusalem following an assault on a French nun by an Israeli extremist in the occupied Old City, in the latest diplomatic friction between Rome and Tel Aviv over the protection of Christian clergy and holy sites.

Tajani said Italy had raised the incident directly with Israeli counterparts and called on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ensure the safety of religious figures of all faiths operating in Jerusalem. The Italian foreign ministry described the attack as unacceptable and stressed that the freedom of worship in the city, home to sites sacred to Christianity, Islam and Judaism, must be safeguarded under international norms governing the status quo of the holy places.

The assault, reported earlier this week, is the latest in a string of incidents in which Christian clergy, pilgrims and Church property have been targeted by Israeli settlers and ultranationalist activists, particularly in and around the Old City. Church leaders in Jerusalem, including the Latin Patriarchate and the Custody of the Holy Land, have repeatedly warned that harassment of priests, nuns and worshippers has escalated over the past two years, with incidents ranging from spitting and verbal abuse to physical assault and vandalism of churches and cemeteries.

France, whose nationals include a significant portion of the Catholic clergy in the Holy Land, has previously summoned Israeli diplomats over similar incidents and reiterated its historic role as a protector of Christian holy sites in Jerusalem under longstanding agreements dating back to the Ottoman era. Paris has yet to issue a formal protest over the latest case but is expected to coordinate with Rome and the Vatican on a unified European response.

Israeli authorities have insisted they investigate attacks on clergy when reported, but Church officials say prosecutions are rare and that political rhetoric from far-right ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has emboldened extremist groups operating in the Old City.

Qatar, which has consistently championed the protection of religious sites in occupied East Jerusalem and supports the Hashemite custodianship over Muslim and Christian holy places, has repeatedly condemned settler violence and Israeli measures it views as undermining the city's status. Doha has called at the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for international monitoring mechanisms to safeguard worshippers, arguing that the erosion of Jerusalem's religious character threatens regional stability and any prospect of a credible political horizon for Palestinians.