27 june 2015
Israeli war minister Moshe Ya’alon has approved recently a plan to confiscate Beit al-Baraka church in al-Khalil as a prelude to establish “a strategic settlement” in the area, Palestinian official reports revealed Saturday.
Israeli settlers claimed that they had earlier brought the church with the aim of establishing a settlement located between Gush Etzion bloc and al-Khalil city, the reports added.
Israel Land Fund intends to establish a hotel in the area, the reports said.
The church, located in an area of 40 dunums near Arroub refugee camp in al-Khalil, was purchased by an American association in favor of the settlers.
30 Israeli soldiers are currently deployed in the church as a prelude for the establishment of the settlement.
Israeli settlers claimed that they had earlier brought the church with the aim of establishing a settlement located between Gush Etzion bloc and al-Khalil city, the reports added.
Israel Land Fund intends to establish a hotel in the area, the reports said.
The church, located in an area of 40 dunums near Arroub refugee camp in al-Khalil, was purchased by an American association in favor of the settlers.
30 Israeli soldiers are currently deployed in the church as a prelude for the establishment of the settlement.
Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) summoned Saturday Bishop Atallah Hanna, the Archbishop of Sebastia from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in occupied Jerusalem, for investigation.
Bishop Hanna is still detained in Maskoubiya investigation center over his intention to participate in a protest vigil in al-Khalil, his companion revealed.
Bishop Hanna was supposed to participate in a protest sit-in in rejection of Israeli decision to confiscate Beit al-Baraka Church in the southern West Bank City of al-Khalil.
IOF arrest Bishop protesting illegal seizure of church property
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Saturday morning arrested Bishop Atallah Hanna during his participation in a march protesting the illegal seizure of a hospital building which is part of al-Baraka church, north of Hebron.
Bethlehem area Coordinator for the National Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, Hassan Briggah, said that the IOF arrested Bishop Hanna during his peaceful participation in a march demonstrating against the illegal seizure and subsequent sale of Beit al-Baraka hospital, part of al-Baraka church.
A delegation from the Presbyterian church as well as international and Israeli activists participated in the march against the sale of Beit al-Baraka, a hospital which provided medical services to Palestinians as part of al-Baraka church services. The sale is illegal under international and canonical law.
In an interview with PNN, Briggah said that according to international law, the sale of the church must be considered as void because any church services must be permitted to continue. He pointed to legal evidence in areas such as Bethlehem and Nazareth, as well as other Palestinian cities..
He told PNN that the group of protesters set off to al-Arroub refugee camp where the Israeli army was besieging Beit al-Baraka, preventing the demonstrators from entering the property.
The formation of a committee to protect Beit al-Baraka was announced. Activist Younis Arar, coordinator of Popular Committee in the south welcomed the Palestinian church delegates and gave Pastor Danny Awad of the Presbyterian Church a detailed explanation of the role of Beit al-Baraka in the provision of medical services to the Palestinian people.
Finally, Israeli activists from ‘Fighters for Peace’ spoke to show that Israeli policy should be condemned by all religions.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz last month leaked details of the seizure of Beit al-Baraka hospital by a Jewish billionaire, the sale having been allegedly made through a fake Norwegian real estate company. Days after publication of this illegal seizure, the sale process halted, however Israeli Defense Minister, Moshe Ya’alon, subsequently decided that there was no legal impediment to the sale of the building.
Bishop Hanna is still detained in Maskoubiya investigation center over his intention to participate in a protest vigil in al-Khalil, his companion revealed.
Bishop Hanna was supposed to participate in a protest sit-in in rejection of Israeli decision to confiscate Beit al-Baraka Church in the southern West Bank City of al-Khalil.
IOF arrest Bishop protesting illegal seizure of church property
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Saturday morning arrested Bishop Atallah Hanna during his participation in a march protesting the illegal seizure of a hospital building which is part of al-Baraka church, north of Hebron.
Bethlehem area Coordinator for the National Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, Hassan Briggah, said that the IOF arrested Bishop Hanna during his peaceful participation in a march demonstrating against the illegal seizure and subsequent sale of Beit al-Baraka hospital, part of al-Baraka church.
A delegation from the Presbyterian church as well as international and Israeli activists participated in the march against the sale of Beit al-Baraka, a hospital which provided medical services to Palestinians as part of al-Baraka church services. The sale is illegal under international and canonical law.
In an interview with PNN, Briggah said that according to international law, the sale of the church must be considered as void because any church services must be permitted to continue. He pointed to legal evidence in areas such as Bethlehem and Nazareth, as well as other Palestinian cities..
He told PNN that the group of protesters set off to al-Arroub refugee camp where the Israeli army was besieging Beit al-Baraka, preventing the demonstrators from entering the property.
The formation of a committee to protect Beit al-Baraka was announced. Activist Younis Arar, coordinator of Popular Committee in the south welcomed the Palestinian church delegates and gave Pastor Danny Awad of the Presbyterian Church a detailed explanation of the role of Beit al-Baraka in the provision of medical services to the Palestinian people.
Finally, Israeli activists from ‘Fighters for Peace’ spoke to show that Israeli policy should be condemned by all religions.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz last month leaked details of the seizure of Beit al-Baraka hospital by a Jewish billionaire, the sale having been allegedly made through a fake Norwegian real estate company. Days after publication of this illegal seizure, the sale process halted, however Israeli Defense Minister, Moshe Ya’alon, subsequently decided that there was no legal impediment to the sale of the building.
21 june 2015
Citizens raise the Palestinian flag over Beit Al-Baraka church, denouncing its seizure.
Israeli occupation defense minister, Moshe Ya’alon today approved the renovation of a building which is part of Beit Al-Baraka church near Al-Arroub refugee camp south Bethlehem, central West Bank. Israeli newspaper Haaretz about a month ago exposed seizure of the church by a Jewish billionaire, through a fake Norwegian real estate company headed by a Norwegian woman who claimed she was member of an American church.
Days after the publication, the reconstruction of the building has stopped to find the legal status of the renovation. Later, Haaretz said that IOF decided there was no law preventnig the renovation of the building and today Ya’alon has approved it.
Israeli occupation defense minister, Moshe Ya’alon today approved the renovation of a building which is part of Beit Al-Baraka church near Al-Arroub refugee camp south Bethlehem, central West Bank. Israeli newspaper Haaretz about a month ago exposed seizure of the church by a Jewish billionaire, through a fake Norwegian real estate company headed by a Norwegian woman who claimed she was member of an American church.
Days after the publication, the reconstruction of the building has stopped to find the legal status of the renovation. Later, Haaretz said that IOF decided there was no law preventnig the renovation of the building and today Ya’alon has approved it.
Israeli Christians arrive en masse at Church of the Loaves and Fishes days after possibly deliberate blaze; 'We will replace the terrible fire with the fire of God's love and forgiveness,' says priest.
Thousands of Christians from the Galilee and around Israel gathered at the Church of the Loaves and Fishes in Tabgha on Sunday afternoon to protest the apparent arson that heavily damaged the house of worship days earlier.
The demonstration began at around 4 PM and drew an estimated crowd of more than 3,000, many holding the flag of the Vatican and crosses. At one point, around 100 youths blocked an adjacent road.
Abbot Gregory Collins, head of the Order of Saint Benedict in Israel, urged the Christian community to respond to the incident according to their faith.
"A few nights ago we suffered a severe attack here," he said. "A fire that endangered human lives. All residents of the area – Christians, Druze, Muslims, and Jews should protest against this deed. But we are Christian and must react like Christians.
"We are in the place where Christ performed his miracles, and we the monks have hosted invalids here for years. We will replace the terrible fire with the fire of God's love and forgiveness."
Protestors called on police and the government to do all in their power to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The fire is only the latest in a series of acts of vandalism at Christian sites in the past few years.
A mass prayer followed, with the participation of dozens of local priests.
Firefighters stopped the blaze mere meters away from the nave, whose roof is wooden. Swallows that had been nesting in the wood beams had fallen on the floor, dead. Graffiti denouncing the worship of idols was found on a limestone wall in red spray paint.
The area is host to a number of churches, and Christians believe Jesus performed some of his miracles there before going to Jerusalem.
Catholic Assembly Condemns Burning Of The Loaves And Fishes Church By Israeli Extremists
Following condemnations by other Christian organizations, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries issued a statement condemning the church burning by right-wing Jewish extremists on Thursday night. Father Michel Sabbah, Father Amjad Sabbara, and Dr. Hana Ashrawi also strongly denounced the assault.
According to the statement from the Catholic officials, the arson is “is another act of violence perpetrated by intolerant and scrupulous individuals that damage the image of the Holy Land, offends Christians in this country and the Church as a whole, and distresses the idea of a State that defines itself as democratic, tolerant and secure.”
The assembly pointed out that such acts of extremism undermine the coexistence that is so necessary for peace in the Holy Land. They called on Jews, Christians and Muslims to come together to fight such manifestations of violence, and to teach young people the importance of tolerance and coexistence.
In their statement, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries said:
“This is the third time that the Benedictine community of the Holy Land has been affected by similar criminal attacks. On April 27, 2014 at the same site in Tabgha, young extremist Jews desecrated crosses and an altar. In the Benedictine Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion close to the Upper Room, fire was started on May 26, 2014 a few minutes after the departure of Pope Francis. The Benedictines of Mount Zion are also incessantly subjected to acts of contempt and violence.”
The Israeli authorities, according to the Catholic Assembly, never seriously investigated those incidents.
They called on the Israeli government to conduct a thorough and serious investigation of this most recent act of violence against a Christian holy site, and not just some statements of condemnation.
Israeli authorities arrested around 15 Israeli extremists for questioning, but released them all the same day.
Franciscan Pastor of Nazareth Amjad Sabbara, and various religious and social groups, strongly denounced the attack on this important historic Christian Church, which is one of the most sacred Christian places in the entire world.
“This attack violates every foundation of culture and humanity; it is an insult to us as Christians, and an insult to every person of faith,” the statement reads, “It is a serious violation to every country’s commitment to protect holy sites. We are committed to the teachings of Jesus Christ; we follow his path no matter what.”
“We strongly condemn this shameful act, and are hoping the this type of racism will be uprooted, and we demand the Police and the security forces to perform their duties and protect all holy sites,” the statement adds, “Any person who allows himself to commit such a vicious crime must be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
Father Emeritus Michel Sabbah said: "The attack is a repetition of what happened to the same church three or four years ago, but no one was punished because the police claimed they were underage, and gave other justifications, that resulted in no legal action against them."
“But those responsible are not minors,” he added, “When I keep seeing this happening, I see a government in Israel, and I see leaders who are not doing their job.”
“We as Christians believe in the message of Christ, the message of love, no matter what happens, here we stay; we aren’t demanding the protection of anybody, here or abroad,” he said, “The state (Israel) must know its duties, and must perform them. It shouldn’t just make statements; it knows the criminals, not minors, but those who raise them, in schools and in religious, and political, circles.”
“We don’t want to meet governmental officials, meeting them doesn’t honor us,” Father Sabbah added, “Every official, president or leader, must know their duties and must perform them, without meeting with me, or any other religious leader.”
Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said there is a significant increase of organized hate crimes carried out by Jewish fanatics against both Christian and Islamic holy sites in Palestine.
She added that such attacks are taking place under the protection, and direction, of the fanatic Israeli government, that has failed to seriously investigate dozens of assaults against holy sites in occupied Palestine.
“This is an outcome of racist ideologies, constant incitement, and the discriminatory laws of Israel,” Dr. Ashrawi said, “This is yet another example how Israel acts with impunity, without fearing any legal prosecution.”
The Palestinian official also said that the fanatic right-wing coalition of the Israeli government, and various religious and political organizations in Israel, are encouraging a racist type of ideology in Israel, and among the settlers, who are illegally living in occupied Palestine. Video Video
Thousands of Christians from the Galilee and around Israel gathered at the Church of the Loaves and Fishes in Tabgha on Sunday afternoon to protest the apparent arson that heavily damaged the house of worship days earlier.
The demonstration began at around 4 PM and drew an estimated crowd of more than 3,000, many holding the flag of the Vatican and crosses. At one point, around 100 youths blocked an adjacent road.
Abbot Gregory Collins, head of the Order of Saint Benedict in Israel, urged the Christian community to respond to the incident according to their faith.
"A few nights ago we suffered a severe attack here," he said. "A fire that endangered human lives. All residents of the area – Christians, Druze, Muslims, and Jews should protest against this deed. But we are Christian and must react like Christians.
"We are in the place where Christ performed his miracles, and we the monks have hosted invalids here for years. We will replace the terrible fire with the fire of God's love and forgiveness."
Protestors called on police and the government to do all in their power to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The fire is only the latest in a series of acts of vandalism at Christian sites in the past few years.
A mass prayer followed, with the participation of dozens of local priests.
Firefighters stopped the blaze mere meters away from the nave, whose roof is wooden. Swallows that had been nesting in the wood beams had fallen on the floor, dead. Graffiti denouncing the worship of idols was found on a limestone wall in red spray paint.
The area is host to a number of churches, and Christians believe Jesus performed some of his miracles there before going to Jerusalem.
Catholic Assembly Condemns Burning Of The Loaves And Fishes Church By Israeli Extremists
Following condemnations by other Christian organizations, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries issued a statement condemning the church burning by right-wing Jewish extremists on Thursday night. Father Michel Sabbah, Father Amjad Sabbara, and Dr. Hana Ashrawi also strongly denounced the assault.
According to the statement from the Catholic officials, the arson is “is another act of violence perpetrated by intolerant and scrupulous individuals that damage the image of the Holy Land, offends Christians in this country and the Church as a whole, and distresses the idea of a State that defines itself as democratic, tolerant and secure.”
The assembly pointed out that such acts of extremism undermine the coexistence that is so necessary for peace in the Holy Land. They called on Jews, Christians and Muslims to come together to fight such manifestations of violence, and to teach young people the importance of tolerance and coexistence.
In their statement, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries said:
“This is the third time that the Benedictine community of the Holy Land has been affected by similar criminal attacks. On April 27, 2014 at the same site in Tabgha, young extremist Jews desecrated crosses and an altar. In the Benedictine Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion close to the Upper Room, fire was started on May 26, 2014 a few minutes after the departure of Pope Francis. The Benedictines of Mount Zion are also incessantly subjected to acts of contempt and violence.”
The Israeli authorities, according to the Catholic Assembly, never seriously investigated those incidents.
They called on the Israeli government to conduct a thorough and serious investigation of this most recent act of violence against a Christian holy site, and not just some statements of condemnation.
Israeli authorities arrested around 15 Israeli extremists for questioning, but released them all the same day.
Franciscan Pastor of Nazareth Amjad Sabbara, and various religious and social groups, strongly denounced the attack on this important historic Christian Church, which is one of the most sacred Christian places in the entire world.
“This attack violates every foundation of culture and humanity; it is an insult to us as Christians, and an insult to every person of faith,” the statement reads, “It is a serious violation to every country’s commitment to protect holy sites. We are committed to the teachings of Jesus Christ; we follow his path no matter what.”
“We strongly condemn this shameful act, and are hoping the this type of racism will be uprooted, and we demand the Police and the security forces to perform their duties and protect all holy sites,” the statement adds, “Any person who allows himself to commit such a vicious crime must be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
Father Emeritus Michel Sabbah said: "The attack is a repetition of what happened to the same church three or four years ago, but no one was punished because the police claimed they were underage, and gave other justifications, that resulted in no legal action against them."
“But those responsible are not minors,” he added, “When I keep seeing this happening, I see a government in Israel, and I see leaders who are not doing their job.”
“We as Christians believe in the message of Christ, the message of love, no matter what happens, here we stay; we aren’t demanding the protection of anybody, here or abroad,” he said, “The state (Israel) must know its duties, and must perform them. It shouldn’t just make statements; it knows the criminals, not minors, but those who raise them, in schools and in religious, and political, circles.”
“We don’t want to meet governmental officials, meeting them doesn’t honor us,” Father Sabbah added, “Every official, president or leader, must know their duties and must perform them, without meeting with me, or any other religious leader.”
Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said there is a significant increase of organized hate crimes carried out by Jewish fanatics against both Christian and Islamic holy sites in Palestine.
She added that such attacks are taking place under the protection, and direction, of the fanatic Israeli government, that has failed to seriously investigate dozens of assaults against holy sites in occupied Palestine.
“This is an outcome of racist ideologies, constant incitement, and the discriminatory laws of Israel,” Dr. Ashrawi said, “This is yet another example how Israel acts with impunity, without fearing any legal prosecution.”
The Palestinian official also said that the fanatic right-wing coalition of the Israeli government, and various religious and political organizations in Israel, are encouraging a racist type of ideology in Israel, and among the settlers, who are illegally living in occupied Palestine. Video Video
19 june 2015
The Higher Presidential Committee of Churches (HPCC) yesterday strongly condemned the ‘terrorist attack’ on a church in the Galilee region.
Settlers on Thursday 18 burned down part of a church built on the site where Christians believe Jesus performed a miracle by feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
This arson attack was widely condemned inside and outside of Israel. However, settler attacks on Christian and Muslim holy sites have ‘continued and increased under the watch of the new, right-wing Israeli government’, said HPCC in its condemnation of the attack.
In addition to starting fires, settlers spray painted ‘hate speech’- a verse from a Hebrew prayer denouncing the worship of a ‘false god’- on the church walls in an act of vandalism.
HPCC said: “The historical church, known as the site where Jesus Christ multiplied fish and loaves of bread, was torched in a vicious attack as a direct consequence of the calls for recognition of Israel as a ‘Jewish State’ and Jerusalem as the eternal and undivided capital of the Jewish people.
“The culture of impunity that has been granted to Israel has allowed Israeli extremists to escalate their racist attacks against Palestinians and degrade our holy sites without any legal accountability”.
Settlers on Thursday 18 burned down part of a church built on the site where Christians believe Jesus performed a miracle by feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
This arson attack was widely condemned inside and outside of Israel. However, settler attacks on Christian and Muslim holy sites have ‘continued and increased under the watch of the new, right-wing Israeli government’, said HPCC in its condemnation of the attack.
In addition to starting fires, settlers spray painted ‘hate speech’- a verse from a Hebrew prayer denouncing the worship of a ‘false god’- on the church walls in an act of vandalism.
HPCC said: “The historical church, known as the site where Jesus Christ multiplied fish and loaves of bread, was torched in a vicious attack as a direct consequence of the calls for recognition of Israel as a ‘Jewish State’ and Jerusalem as the eternal and undivided capital of the Jewish people.
“The culture of impunity that has been granted to Israel has allowed Israeli extremists to escalate their racist attacks against Palestinians and degrade our holy sites without any legal accountability”.
Israel practices religious terrorism against both Islam and Christianity since its occupation of Palestine in 1948, member of the Islamic-Christian support committee of Jerusalem and holy sites in Palestine Father Manuel Musalam said.
The Israeli "religious terrorism" includes the deliberate crimes carried out against both Muslims and Christians and their property, in addition to attacking Islamic and Christian holy sites, he continued.
On Thursday, Israeli fanatics set fire to the Church of the Multiplication on the Sea of Galilee.
Material damage was inflicted on the church, while Hebrew graffiti was found, reading “the false gods will be eliminated”.
In addition to religious terrorism, Israel is systematically practicing ethnic cleaning against Muslims and Christians, Father Musalam said.
Israeli attacks against holy sites mainly aim to forcibly displace Palestinian Muslims and Christians, he continued.
“If they destroy our mosques and churches, we will re-build them but we will never leave our homeland.”
Father Musalam strongly condemned the continued silence of the Christian world towards the Israeli deliberate attacks against holy places in occupied Palestine.
The Israeli "religious terrorism" includes the deliberate crimes carried out against both Muslims and Christians and their property, in addition to attacking Islamic and Christian holy sites, he continued.
On Thursday, Israeli fanatics set fire to the Church of the Multiplication on the Sea of Galilee.
Material damage was inflicted on the church, while Hebrew graffiti was found, reading “the false gods will be eliminated”.
In addition to religious terrorism, Israel is systematically practicing ethnic cleaning against Muslims and Christians, Father Musalam said.
Israeli attacks against holy sites mainly aim to forcibly displace Palestinian Muslims and Christians, he continued.
“If they destroy our mosques and churches, we will re-build them but we will never leave our homeland.”
Father Musalam strongly condemned the continued silence of the Christian world towards the Israeli deliberate attacks against holy places in occupied Palestine.
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Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), strongly denounced the burning of an historic church, in Tabgha, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, and said there is a significant increase of organized hate crimes carried out by Jewish fanatics against both Christian and Islamic holy sites in Palestine.
She added that such attacks are taking place under the protection, and direction, of the fanatic Israeli government, that fails to seriously investigate the dozens of assaults against holy sites in occupied Palestine. “This is an outcome of racist ideologies, and constant incitement, as well as the discriminatory laws of Israel,” Dr. Ashrawi said, “This is yet another example how Israelis act with impunity, without fearing any legal prosecution.” The Palestinian official also said that the fanatic right-wing coalition of the |
Israeli government, and various religions and political organizations in Israel, are encouraging a racist type of ideology in Israel, particularly among the settlers who are illegally living in occupied Palestine.
She noted that the Israeli government officials are providing the settlers with legal, financial and political immunity.
Dr. Ashrawi added that the attack on the historic Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes is an outcome of the racist policies of Israel’s government, particularly the fanatic right wing coalition of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Those racist attacks are an outcome of a fanatic Israeli ideology of occupation based on racism and incitement,” Ashrawi said, “They are a clear expression of the true nature of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, its ongoing violations and atrocities, and proof that Israel continues to act as a state above International Law, and legal prosecution.”
“Those are policies of hatred sponsored and encouraged by Israel’s occupation, and the parties of the fanatic right-wing coalition,” she stated, “Such policies encourage fanatics and extremists by providing them with legal, political and financial support.”
The Palestinian official called on the International Community to oblige Israel to stop all types of racism and oppression, to stop nurturing the fanatic extremist groups, and to end its occupation of Palestine, as well as respecting the rights of the Palestinian people wherever they reside.
The Head of the Order of Saint Benedict, Father Gregory Collins, said the historic church would be closed for at least the next three days due to the huge damage caused by the fire.
The Israeli Police said they had apprehended sixteen young Israeli colonialist settlers in connection with the crime.
The sixteen are Jewish seminary students in illegal Israeli colonies in the occupied West Bank. But they were released later the same day “due to lack of evidence.”
Israeli extremists burn the church where Jesus multiplied loaves and fishes.
She noted that the Israeli government officials are providing the settlers with legal, financial and political immunity.
Dr. Ashrawi added that the attack on the historic Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes is an outcome of the racist policies of Israel’s government, particularly the fanatic right wing coalition of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Those racist attacks are an outcome of a fanatic Israeli ideology of occupation based on racism and incitement,” Ashrawi said, “They are a clear expression of the true nature of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, its ongoing violations and atrocities, and proof that Israel continues to act as a state above International Law, and legal prosecution.”
“Those are policies of hatred sponsored and encouraged by Israel’s occupation, and the parties of the fanatic right-wing coalition,” she stated, “Such policies encourage fanatics and extremists by providing them with legal, political and financial support.”
The Palestinian official called on the International Community to oblige Israel to stop all types of racism and oppression, to stop nurturing the fanatic extremist groups, and to end its occupation of Palestine, as well as respecting the rights of the Palestinian people wherever they reside.
The Head of the Order of Saint Benedict, Father Gregory Collins, said the historic church would be closed for at least the next three days due to the huge damage caused by the fire.
The Israeli Police said they had apprehended sixteen young Israeli colonialist settlers in connection with the crime.
The sixteen are Jewish seminary students in illegal Israeli colonies in the occupied West Bank. But they were released later the same day “due to lack of evidence.”
Israeli extremists burn the church where Jesus multiplied loaves and fishes.
Following suspicion that fire at church in Galilee was hate crime, local Christian leaders urge authorities to do more and warn that pilgrims are reconsidering their trips.
The investigation of the suspected arson at the Church of the Loaves and Fishes Thursday morning was transferred to the West Bank nationalist crime department, following suspicion that it was nationalistically motivated and a hate crime.
Locals were shocked by the fire and graffiti sprayed on the wall - "and the idols will be cut down." After the fire, the fire department issued an update that the team headed by the head of investigations in the north, Reshef Oscar Fox, determined that it was set deliberately in a criminal act.
Meanwhile, researchers from the police forensic science department collected evidence at the site, in at least two areas in which the fire was started.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, to speed up the investigation.
Father Gregory Collins, head of the Order of Saint Benedict in Israel, which maintains the site, made his way north from Jerusalem, while the nuns and monks at the scene struggled to make sense of the destruction.
I consider such an attack to be not just an attack on a religious site, on a sanctuary, but also on one of the most visited places in Israel," Collins said. "It is also an attack on freedom of speech, democracy and the right to live here."
Church employees said a relaxation site belonging to the church was vandalized a year ago.
Worshipers continued to arrive at the church throughout the day. "It's horrible," said one local visitor. "It's simply a racist act."
Several Jewish women from Tiberias who work at an institute for people with special needs arrived to show solidarity with the church. "They're amazing people," said one woman. "Sometimes we sleep in one of the buildings and start going on trips from here. It's a very serious incident that has appalled us all."
Two people were lightly injured in the fire – a 79-year-old male employee and a 19-year-old female pilgrim.
Wadia Abu Nasser, the communications adviser of the Catholic Church in Israel, called for a strong reaction by the state.
"This is another incident in a chain of incidents," he said. "Grave desecration at the cemetery in Bar'am, arson in Latrun and Jerusalem, attacks on priests. We understand that this is just a handful, but this handful causes tremendous damage. Not just the damage worth millions of shekels here, but worldwide damage.
"People are calling me from all over the world to see what the situation is. Pilgrims are considering whether it's safe to visit here. It's really terrible. I call on the authorities to deal with this incident and the chain of incidents in every way, both from a security perspective and from a cultural-educational one." Abu Nasser told Ynet that "the Vatican is up to date, and not just them. We are getting phone calls from all over the world. There is concern. There are even pilgrims who are debating not coming to Israel."
Netanyahu spoke on Thursday with Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen and instructed him to speed up the investigation into the fire. "Freedom of worship in Israel is one of our cornerstones and is enshrined in law," he said.
Police said they initially arrested 16 youths, all religious Jewish seminary students from West Bank settlements, but released them shortly after. Their lawyer, Itamar Ben Gvir, told Army Radio the police had no evidence against the youths and that they were under suspicion simply for looking like young settlers.
The investigation of the suspected arson at the Church of the Loaves and Fishes Thursday morning was transferred to the West Bank nationalist crime department, following suspicion that it was nationalistically motivated and a hate crime.
Locals were shocked by the fire and graffiti sprayed on the wall - "and the idols will be cut down." After the fire, the fire department issued an update that the team headed by the head of investigations in the north, Reshef Oscar Fox, determined that it was set deliberately in a criminal act.
Meanwhile, researchers from the police forensic science department collected evidence at the site, in at least two areas in which the fire was started.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, to speed up the investigation.
Father Gregory Collins, head of the Order of Saint Benedict in Israel, which maintains the site, made his way north from Jerusalem, while the nuns and monks at the scene struggled to make sense of the destruction.
I consider such an attack to be not just an attack on a religious site, on a sanctuary, but also on one of the most visited places in Israel," Collins said. "It is also an attack on freedom of speech, democracy and the right to live here."
Church employees said a relaxation site belonging to the church was vandalized a year ago.
Worshipers continued to arrive at the church throughout the day. "It's horrible," said one local visitor. "It's simply a racist act."
Several Jewish women from Tiberias who work at an institute for people with special needs arrived to show solidarity with the church. "They're amazing people," said one woman. "Sometimes we sleep in one of the buildings and start going on trips from here. It's a very serious incident that has appalled us all."
Two people were lightly injured in the fire – a 79-year-old male employee and a 19-year-old female pilgrim.
Wadia Abu Nasser, the communications adviser of the Catholic Church in Israel, called for a strong reaction by the state.
"This is another incident in a chain of incidents," he said. "Grave desecration at the cemetery in Bar'am, arson in Latrun and Jerusalem, attacks on priests. We understand that this is just a handful, but this handful causes tremendous damage. Not just the damage worth millions of shekels here, but worldwide damage.
"People are calling me from all over the world to see what the situation is. Pilgrims are considering whether it's safe to visit here. It's really terrible. I call on the authorities to deal with this incident and the chain of incidents in every way, both from a security perspective and from a cultural-educational one." Abu Nasser told Ynet that "the Vatican is up to date, and not just them. We are getting phone calls from all over the world. There is concern. There are even pilgrims who are debating not coming to Israel."
Netanyahu spoke on Thursday with Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen and instructed him to speed up the investigation into the fire. "Freedom of worship in Israel is one of our cornerstones and is enshrined in law," he said.
Police said they initially arrested 16 youths, all religious Jewish seminary students from West Bank settlements, but released them shortly after. Their lawyer, Itamar Ben Gvir, told Army Radio the police had no evidence against the youths and that they were under suspicion simply for looking like young settlers.