In recent months, the Holy Land has witnessed episodes of violence and intolerance that have deeply shaken the local and international Christian community. Benedictine Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel, of the Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, has raised a cry of alarm that deserves attention. In an exclusive interview, he described a situation he calls "a new phase of anti-Christian hatred."
His words are filled with concern, but also with hope, as they point a way toward dialogue and reconciliation. In a context marked by political and religious tensions, the voice of those who live the reality of the Holy Land daily becomes a precious guide for all Christians.
Shocking Acts of Violence
Abbot Schnabel cited two particularly grave incidents. The first is the assault on a French nun in Jerusalem, an attack that struck not only one person but the entire religious community. The second is the act of an Israeli soldier who put a cigarette into the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in the Christian village of Debel, southern Lebanon. This followed the destruction of a statue of Jesus by another Israeli soldier in the same village a few weeks earlier.
"When you use your physical presence to assault, and in this case symbolically a woman, you cross a new red line," the abbot stated. These acts are not just vandalism but expressions of a hatred that seems to be growing alarmingly.
The Roots of Hatred: Kahanism
According to Abbot Schnabel, behind these episodes lies the ideology of Kahanism, an ultranationalist and religious Jewish movement founded by Rabbi Meir Kahane. The Kach party, which drew inspiration from it, was once banned in Israel. Today, however, people linked to that ideology hold positions of power. "Those who used to spit on us are now in government," the abbot said bitterly, referring to how certain extremists are now part of the Israeli political scene.
The abbot also warned against a simplistic view that blames everything on Muslims, denying the existence of Jewish terrorism. "There are groups, even among Christians and within the Catholic Church itself, who are convinced they know the reality of the Middle East perfectly—even if they have never been there—and according to whom the problem is only Muslims. This also denies the existence of the phenomenon of Jewish terrorism."
Israel at a Crossroads
Abbot Schnabel emphasized that Israel is at a crossroads. On one hand, the path of democracy and respect for minorities; on the other, that of extremism and violence. "Israel is at a crossroads," he said, calling on the authorities and civil society to choose the path of justice and peace.
This analysis is not only political but deeply spiritual. The Bible reminds us that God loves justice and righteousness (Psalm 33:5) and that we are called to "seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14). In a time when hatred seems to prevail, Christians are invited to be witnesses of a love that transcends every division.
The Response of Christian Faith
Faced with these events, the Christian community cannot remain silent. Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This does not mean passively accepting injustice, but responding with a different strength—that of love and truth.
Abbot Schnabel urged Christians worldwide to inform themselves and not fall into easy generalizations. "We cannot judge an entire religion or an entire people based on the actions of a few extremists," he said. "We must know
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