Christian pilgrims have been visiting Jerusalem and the Holy Land for centuries, trying to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. But in recent years, there has been a disturbing rise in incidents of harassment and abuse against Christians by Jewish Israelis. Some pilgrims have been spat on in the street and Christian graveyards have been desecrated. And it is not solely foreign visitors – Christians who live in Israel have also reported a worrying uptick in hostility, mostly from some within the Haredi or ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. In this week’s show we try to find out what is driving this trend, and how its small Christian minority could respond well amidst the complexities of religious populism and competing histories of persecution.

Guests this week:

- Richard Sewell, Dean of St George’s College in Jerusalem

- Faydra Shapiro, director of the Israel Centre for Jewish-Christian Relations

- Francis Martin, reporter at the Church Times

Read Francis’s report for the Church Times here: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/4-august/news/world/christians-face-harassment-on-via-dolorosa