#Christians #ArmenianChurchKegham Balian (@kbalian90)BREAKING: Alarming record-high 58% of anti-Christian harassment in Jerusalem’s Old City disproportionately targeted the Armenian Quarter.
In its latest quarterly report (Q3), Incidents Against Christians in Israel, the Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) revealed that 45 out of the 77 incidents in Jerusalem’s Old City between July and September 2026 occurred on Armenian Patriarchate Street, in the heart of the Armenian Quarter.
The documented harassment includes throwing objects, physical assault, verbal abuse, spitting, threats, defacement of signage, and vandalism.
Among the most disturbing incidents was the pepper-spraying of a 9-year-old Armenian boy by a 22-year-old Israeli Jewish settler in Mamilla, outside Jerusalem’s Old City.
During the third quarter of 2026 (Q3), 35 police complaints were filed, most supported by photographic and/or video evidence identifying the crime and suspects. By comparison, 12 police cases were opened during the previous quarter (Q2), 10 of which were subsequently closed.
In conclusion, the RFDC report draws particular attention to the Armenian community’s vulnerability:
“Thousands of people walk through its streets on their way to the Western Wall, and it has the highest number of documented incidents of harassment. Regrettably, the [Armenian] community has received no specific attention, response, or action plan to put an end to its suffering.”
The Armenian community of Jerusalem traces its origins to the 4th century, maintaining an uninterrupted presence in the Holy Land for 1,700 years. Today, the community numbers approximately 2,000 Jerusalemite Armenians, a population that has dramatically declined since 1948.
Founded in 2023 by Israeli activist and interfaith scholar Yisca Harani, the Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) is an Israeli watchdog organization that monitors and archives anti-Christian attacks in Israel.— https://x.com/kbalian90/status/2108566366907248955