An Israeli settler who was filmed knocking a nun to the ground and kicking her in Jerusalem's Old City has walked free on mental-health grounds, a ruling Christian and Muslim groups call a sign that attacks on non-Jews go unpunished.

• Yona Shriber was charged with racially motivated assault after the April attack, which left the nun with a head injury.
• A Jerusalem court accepted a psychiatrist's finding that he was psychotic and unaware of his actions, and dropped the charges.
• He was sent to a psychiatric hospital for up to six years, but doctors can release him at any time.
• The nun's lawyer questioned the defense, pointing out he ignored bystanders and went straight for her, then hit a man who tried to help.
• Attacks on Christians in Israel are common: more than 88 incidents of harassment and assault so far this year, after 181 last year, including spitting, graffiti and vandalized graves and churches.

Outlook: With no conviction and an open-ended hospital stay, expect more pressure from Christian and Muslim groups over how Israeli courts handle settler violence.