Foreign Ministry, Huckabee pan WSJ report on harassment of Christians in Israel

Israel's Foreign Ministry and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee criticized a Wall Street Journal report on harassment of Christians in Israel, calling it 'disingenuous, misleading and shameful.' The ministry argued the report highlighted extreme cases while ignoring nearly 200,000 Christians. Huckabee acknowledged 'occasional but rare' attacks. The WSJ documented incidents of Orthodox Jews spitting at clerics, with 107 incidents recorded in the first half of the year, more than double the same period in 2024.

Israel's Foreign Ministry and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee sharply criticized a Wall Street Journal article on harassment of Christians in Israel, with the ministry calling it 'disingenuous, misleading and shameful.' The ministry argued the report focused on extreme cases and ignored the broader Christian community, noting nearly 200,000 Christians in Israel. Huckabee, a Christian pastor, acknowledged 'occasional but rare' attacks but emphasized Israel's religious diversity and protection of holy sites. The WSJ report documented incidents of Orthodox Jews spitting at Christian clerics, with one teen quoted as saying 'We are supposed to hate them.' Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel said spitting incidents have worsened, and scholar Yisca Harani reported 107 incidents in the first half of 2026, more than double the same period in 2024. The ministry highlighted efforts to improve relations, including appointing Ambassador George Deek as special envoy to the Christian world.