Israeli settler assaults evangelical; Ben-Gvir defends spitting at Christians

Israeli settler attacks evangelical woman as minister Ben-Gvir justifies assaults on Christians

An evangelical woman was attacked by an Israeli settler in the West Bank, according to reports circulating on social media. The incident, which has not been covered by mainstream media, adds to a growing escalation of tensions between certain ultra-Orthodox sectors and the evangelical Christian community in Israel. What is striking is that, at the same time, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sparked controversy by justifying extremist Jews spitting at Christians, calling it an "ancient Jewish custom".

The attack and the institutional response
The victim, an evangelical woman, was beaten by an unidentified settler. Witnesses say the police did not intervene immediately. Meanwhile, Ben-Gvir has implicitly endorsed these acts. The minister himself has been criticized by human rights organizations, which see in his statements an incitement to religious violence.

Schreiber's arrest: a separate case
Although not directly related, the debate mentions the arrest of one Schreiber, whose detention the Israeli prosecution recommended extending. This case is cited as an example that, at times, the judicial system does act against violence, although the general perception is that tolerance for attacks on Christians is high.

The evangelical paradox
The incident highlights a contradiction: many evangelicals in the United States and Latin America are staunch supporters of Israel for theological reasons, yet inside Israel they are viewed with suspicion and, at times, assaulted. While evangelical political support for Israel is massive, on the ground they face hostility from ultra-Orthodox sectors who see their proselytizing as a threat.

To what extent does the Israeli government tolerate or even encourage these attacks? The gap between official rhetoric and the facts on the ground remains unbridged.