24 june 2015
A group of extremist settlers set fire to large areas of Palestinian agricultural lands in Taiba town near Ramallah on Wednesday morning, local sources revealed.
The sources pointed out that fanatic settlers torched dozens of dunums of Palestinian lands planted with wheat, causing great damage.
The settlers came from the nearby Jewish Rimonim outpost constructed on Palestinian lands in Taiba, the sources noted.
The Palestinian owners of the burned lands were about to harvest their crops of wheat before being burnt by the fanatic settlers, the sources underlined.
The sources pointed out that fanatic settlers torched dozens of dunums of Palestinian lands planted with wheat, causing great damage.
The settlers came from the nearby Jewish Rimonim outpost constructed on Palestinian lands in Taiba, the sources noted.
The Palestinian owners of the burned lands were about to harvest their crops of wheat before being burnt by the fanatic settlers, the sources underlined.
Groups of extremist settlers desecrated the plazas of the holy Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday morning. Muslim worshipers confronted the incursion by chants of Allahu Akbar.
Israeli Special Forces offered protection to the fanatic settlers during their provocative rounds in the holy site.
Israeli policemen deliberately detained the IDs of a number of women and young men at the various entry gates of the Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli Special Forces offered protection to the fanatic settlers during their provocative rounds in the holy site.
Israeli policemen deliberately detained the IDs of a number of women and young men at the various entry gates of the Aqsa Mosque.
The Israeli government has submitted anew a request to the high court to officially take over private Palestinian lands in order to legalize an unauthorized settlement outpost near Bethlehem, according to Peace Now.
The request was again in response to a Peace Now petition to demolish 17 settlers' homes, which were built on Palestinian-owned lots in the illegal settlement of Derech Ha’avot near Bethlehem.
The illegal outpost of Derech Ha'avot, is located within the illegal settlement block of Gush Etzion, which is now home for more than 54,000 Jewish settlers
The high court will convene soon to debate the demolition of these homes.
The Israeli government asked the court to consider the settlers' proposal to take over the lands by a "re-parcellation" (unification and division") procedure, which unites a few parcels together and enables to swap lands with the owners.
This procedure would allow the settlers to receive the Palestinian lands after giving its owners adjacent lands as a kind of compensation.
This is a kind of legal acrobatics that is meant to confiscate the lands without calling it a confiscation, Peace Now stressed.
"If this idea would be approved, the settlers could build anywhere, being sure that the land will be given to them eventually," Peace Now official Hagit Ofran said.
The request was again in response to a Peace Now petition to demolish 17 settlers' homes, which were built on Palestinian-owned lots in the illegal settlement of Derech Ha’avot near Bethlehem.
The illegal outpost of Derech Ha'avot, is located within the illegal settlement block of Gush Etzion, which is now home for more than 54,000 Jewish settlers
The high court will convene soon to debate the demolition of these homes.
The Israeli government asked the court to consider the settlers' proposal to take over the lands by a "re-parcellation" (unification and division") procedure, which unites a few parcels together and enables to swap lands with the owners.
This procedure would allow the settlers to receive the Palestinian lands after giving its owners adjacent lands as a kind of compensation.
This is a kind of legal acrobatics that is meant to confiscate the lands without calling it a confiscation, Peace Now stressed.
"If this idea would be approved, the settlers could build anywhere, being sure that the land will be given to them eventually," Peace Now official Hagit Ofran said.
23 june 2015
The Israeli occupation police on Monday evening kidnapped three Palestinian kids from their homes in east Jerusalem.
Local sources said that policemen disguised in Arab attire stormed al-Sawwanna neighborhood in the holy city and kidnapped three minors, without stating the reason for their detention.
Meanwhile, violent clashes broke in the evening in Attour neighborhood between young men and invading police forces.
The police stormed the neighborhood after Jewish settlers reported that the bus they were aboard was stoned by Palestinian young men.
Local sources said that policemen disguised in Arab attire stormed al-Sawwanna neighborhood in the holy city and kidnapped three minors, without stating the reason for their detention.
Meanwhile, violent clashes broke in the evening in Attour neighborhood between young men and invading police forces.
The police stormed the neighborhood after Jewish settlers reported that the bus they were aboard was stoned by Palestinian young men.
22 june 2015
Israeli forces rounded up Monday morning six Jerusalemite women at the exit gates of the Aqsa Mosque and took them to Qashale investigation center near al-Khalil gate in Occupied Jerusalem.
The arrest of six women followed the incursion of Jewish settlers into the holy Mosque under tight security measures by Israeli forces.
The media center for Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque affairs revealed that five of the six women were identified while the sixth remained unrecognized. All of them, however, are from Occupied Jerusalem.
About 28 Jewish settlers carried out successive incursions into the Aqsa Mosque from the Maghareba gate since فاث morning hours. The settlers provocatively roamed the holy site and went out from al-Silsila gate.
The settlers’ desecration of the Islamic holy place provoked the outrage of Muslim worshipers who chanted Allahu Akbar as well as pro-Aqsa slogans. They closely monitored the settlers since the moment of storming the Mosque.
On the other hand, hundreds of Muslim worshipers, from Jerusalem, the West Bank, and 1948 Occupied Palestine, visited the Mosque on Monday.
The arrest of six women followed the incursion of Jewish settlers into the holy Mosque under tight security measures by Israeli forces.
The media center for Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque affairs revealed that five of the six women were identified while the sixth remained unrecognized. All of them, however, are from Occupied Jerusalem.
About 28 Jewish settlers carried out successive incursions into the Aqsa Mosque from the Maghareba gate since فاث morning hours. The settlers provocatively roamed the holy site and went out from al-Silsila gate.
The settlers’ desecration of the Islamic holy place provoked the outrage of Muslim worshipers who chanted Allahu Akbar as well as pro-Aqsa slogans. They closely monitored the settlers since the moment of storming the Mosque.
On the other hand, hundreds of Muslim worshipers, from Jerusalem, the West Bank, and 1948 Occupied Palestine, visited the Mosque on Monday.
Israel’s tourism minister Yariv Levin submitted a proposal to education minister Naftali Bennett to oblige students to Judaization trips to 10 Islamic holy sites, including al-Khalil’s Ibrahimi Mosque, reviving a previously scotched sacrilegious scheme.
Levin’s plan calls for compulsory visits to be paid by Israeli students to 10 Islamic sites as part of alleged intents to foster ties with the self-proclaimed Israeli state.
Levin’s list includes the Ibrahimi Mosque, in al-Khalil, and also sites in Silwan city, located to the south of Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
Also on Levin’s list are the Knesset, Masada, the Nimrod Fortress, and the tunnels excavated beneath al-Aqsa Mosque, among other sites.
“I believe that the touring of the sites by all schoolchildren will deepen the bond between our youth and our national heritage,” Levin claimed in a letter to Bennett. “And there is no doubt that it will have immense educational value and will strengthen the students’ connection with the country, its sites and its landscapes.”
A similar proposal was introduced earlier by then-education minister Gideon Sa’ar (Likud). However, in response a number of teachers, who signed a petition declaring their refusal to comply with the plan on the grounds that it was too politicized, the proposal was not implemented.
Commenting on the bid, the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said: “Such a racist and sacrilegious scheme is just unthinkable, for it aims not only at falsifying history and facts but also at wiping out the Arab- Islamic civilization entrenched for hundreds of years across the Palestinian soil.”
“It also aims at inculcating in the minds of the younger Israeli generations counterfeit Talmudic concepts rooted in a politics of anti-Muslim chauvinism,” the foundation added.
Levin’s plan calls for compulsory visits to be paid by Israeli students to 10 Islamic sites as part of alleged intents to foster ties with the self-proclaimed Israeli state.
Levin’s list includes the Ibrahimi Mosque, in al-Khalil, and also sites in Silwan city, located to the south of Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
Also on Levin’s list are the Knesset, Masada, the Nimrod Fortress, and the tunnels excavated beneath al-Aqsa Mosque, among other sites.
“I believe that the touring of the sites by all schoolchildren will deepen the bond between our youth and our national heritage,” Levin claimed in a letter to Bennett. “And there is no doubt that it will have immense educational value and will strengthen the students’ connection with the country, its sites and its landscapes.”
A similar proposal was introduced earlier by then-education minister Gideon Sa’ar (Likud). However, in response a number of teachers, who signed a petition declaring their refusal to comply with the plan on the grounds that it was too politicized, the proposal was not implemented.
Commenting on the bid, the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said: “Such a racist and sacrilegious scheme is just unthinkable, for it aims not only at falsifying history and facts but also at wiping out the Arab- Islamic civilization entrenched for hundreds of years across the Palestinian soil.”
“It also aims at inculcating in the minds of the younger Israeli generations counterfeit Talmudic concepts rooted in a politics of anti-Muslim chauvinism,” the foundation added.
Extremist Jewish settlers uprooted 70 olive trees in Palestinian lands to the north of Salfit city on Monday morning.
Palestinian farmers said they were shocked to see Jewish settlers cutting down their trees while plowing their lands close to Ariel and Tafouh settlement outposts.
Cutting the trees was done by modern saw machines causing great damage as most of the trees were perennial, eyewitnesses said.
Palestinian farmers said they were shocked to see Jewish settlers cutting down their trees while plowing their lands close to Ariel and Tafouh settlement outposts.
Cutting the trees was done by modern saw machines causing great damage as most of the trees were perennial, eyewitnesses said.
Palestinian child (10) after ran over by Israeli settler on Sunday, Hebron
An Israeli settler on Sunday evening ran over a Palestinian child aged 10, in the center of Hebron old city, southern West Bank.
Local sources said that an ambulance rushed to the scene to evacuate the child, while Israeli forces rushed to the place to “protect” the settler.
Israeli forces on Sunday as well shot Palestinian teenager, Yasser Turwah (18) after he stabbed an Israeli border policeman in Jerusalem.
Only Saturday an Israeli settler ran over Yasser Shammas, a 3-year-old child in occupied Jerusalem.
According to Days of Palestine, witnesses said that the settler, who was driving a mini-car, approached the Palestinian child while he was waiting with his mother to cross the street.
According to medical sources, the child sustained light injures, but bruises are spread all over his body. The child is still under continuous observation, medical sources added.
An Israeli settler on Sunday evening ran over a Palestinian child aged 10, in the center of Hebron old city, southern West Bank.
Local sources said that an ambulance rushed to the scene to evacuate the child, while Israeli forces rushed to the place to “protect” the settler.
Israeli forces on Sunday as well shot Palestinian teenager, Yasser Turwah (18) after he stabbed an Israeli border policeman in Jerusalem.
Only Saturday an Israeli settler ran over Yasser Shammas, a 3-year-old child in occupied Jerusalem.
According to Days of Palestine, witnesses said that the settler, who was driving a mini-car, approached the Palestinian child while he was waiting with his mother to cross the street.
According to medical sources, the child sustained light injures, but bruises are spread all over his body. The child is still under continuous observation, medical sources added.
Several Palestinian young men on Sunday night suffered injuries during clashes with Israeli policemen in different areas of occupied Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses told Quds Press that violent clashes broke out following al-Tarawih prayers in the streets of Bab al-Amud (Damascus Gate) Bab al-Sahira (Herod's Gate), where Israeli police forces intensively fired tear gas and stun grenades at the angry young men.
They added that a young man suffered a head injury when an Israeli policeman fired a stun grenade at him.
Similar clashes also took place in al-Zeitoun Mount, according to local sources.
Israeli media sources claimed the Israeli police arrested a young men during the overnight events in Jerusalem.
The districts of Issawiya and Ras al-Amud also saw confrontations with the Israeli police.
The events started after local young men threw Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at police patrols.
Meanwhile, Palestinian young men threw a Molotov cocktail at an Israeli bus boarded by extremist Jewish settlers near Hizma town, northeast of Jerusalem, which smashed the windshield and caused slight injuries to the driver.
Eyewitnesses told Quds Press that violent clashes broke out following al-Tarawih prayers in the streets of Bab al-Amud (Damascus Gate) Bab al-Sahira (Herod's Gate), where Israeli police forces intensively fired tear gas and stun grenades at the angry young men.
They added that a young man suffered a head injury when an Israeli policeman fired a stun grenade at him.
Similar clashes also took place in al-Zeitoun Mount, according to local sources.
Israeli media sources claimed the Israeli police arrested a young men during the overnight events in Jerusalem.
The districts of Issawiya and Ras al-Amud also saw confrontations with the Israeli police.
The events started after local young men threw Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at police patrols.
Meanwhile, Palestinian young men threw a Molotov cocktail at an Israeli bus boarded by extremist Jewish settlers near Hizma town, northeast of Jerusalem, which smashed the windshield and caused slight injuries to the driver.
21 june 2015
Israel’s war minister Moshe Ya’alon has approved continued renovation of a church compound in the southern West Bank that was purchased by representatives of U.S. billionaire Irving Moskowitz and earmarked for settlers.
On May 22, Haaretz reported that Moskowitz's representatives had purchased the compound, opposite al-Arroub refugee camp, from an overseas fake Swedish entity masquerading as a church headed by a woman from Norway.
After the piece of news had been propagated, it was decided to stop the work and scrutinize the legality of the purchase.
A meeting held in Ya’alon’s office shortly afterwards culminated in a decision that there was no legal impediment to continuing the renovation.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces quelled a series of rallies and sit-ins staged in protest at the misappropriation of the eight-story building, covering an overall area of some 40 dunums.
Ya’alon approves renovation of seized West Bank church for settlement expansion
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.
On May 22, Haaretz reported that Moskowitz's representatives had purchased the compound, opposite al-Arroub refugee camp, from an overseas fake Swedish entity masquerading as a church headed by a woman from Norway.
After the piece of news had been propagated, it was decided to stop the work and scrutinize the legality of the purchase.
A meeting held in Ya’alon’s office shortly afterwards culminated in a decision that there was no legal impediment to continuing the renovation.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces quelled a series of rallies and sit-ins staged in protest at the misappropriation of the eight-story building, covering an overall area of some 40 dunums.
Ya’alon approves renovation of seized West Bank church for settlement expansion
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 soldiers kidnapped, late on Saturday, two Palestinian children in Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank. Israeli settlers hurled stones on Palestinians and their property, in Hebron’s Old city.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers kidnapped Fadi Nader an-Natsha, 15, and Mahmoud ar-Rajabi, and took them to the Etzion military and security base.
The army claimed the two were taken prisoner following clashes between Israeli soldiers and local youths.
In related news, Israelis living in illegal outposts in the Old City of Hebron, hurled stones on Palestinian homes, and cars, causing property damage, including damage to children’s toys displayed by a street vendor, identified as Tha’er Jaber.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers kidnapped Fadi Nader an-Natsha, 15, and Mahmoud ar-Rajabi, and took them to the Etzion military and security base.
The army claimed the two were taken prisoner following clashes between Israeli soldiers and local youths.
In related news, Israelis living in illegal outposts in the Old City of Hebron, hurled stones on Palestinian homes, and cars, causing property damage, including damage to children’s toys displayed by a street vendor, identified as Tha’er Jaber.
An extremist Israeli settler ran over 3-year old Palestinian child in occupied Jerusalem, Saturday.
The child was identified as Yasser Shammas from Wadi al-Hilwa, in the village of Silwan, occupied city of Jerusalem.
Witnesses said, according to Days of Palestine, that the settler, who was driving a mini-car, approached the Palestinian child while he was waiting with his mother to cross the street.
Palestinian paramedics rushed to the scene and evacuated the child to Hadasa Hospital, in Silwan.
According to medical sources, the child sustained light injures, but bruises are spread all over his body. The child is still under continuous observation, medical sources added.
The child was identified as Yasser Shammas from Wadi al-Hilwa, in the village of Silwan, occupied city of Jerusalem.
Witnesses said, according to Days of Palestine, that the settler, who was driving a mini-car, approached the Palestinian child while he was waiting with his mother to cross the street.
Palestinian paramedics rushed to the scene and evacuated the child to Hadasa Hospital, in Silwan.
According to medical sources, the child sustained light injures, but bruises are spread all over his body. The child is still under continuous observation, medical sources added.
19 june 2015
Danny Gonen 25
Two Israeli victims were traveling near the settlement of Dolev when a Palestinian fired at them and their vehicle at point-blank range; Hamas welcomes attack but doesn't claim responsibility.
Danny Gonen (25), a resident of Lod, was officially proclaimed dead at Tel HaShomer Hospital on Friday after being critically wounded in a shooting attack along a dirt road near the Israeli settlement of Dolev in the West Bank.
Gonen and another 25-year-old Israelis were traveling in the area inside a vehicle when a Palestinian signaled for them to stop as if to ask for help before firing on them from point-blank range. Magen David Adom and a large number of IDF troops were rushed to the area which was cordoned off as searches began for a suspect.
Magen David Adom confirmed that both of the victims were evacuated for medical care at Tel HaShomer hospital, one in critical condition by helicopter and one by ambulance.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the exact circumstances of the shooting are unclear but that police suspect it was a "terror attack."
Hamas welcomed the attack, but fell short of taking responsibility for organizing or carrying out the shooting.
"We welcome the excellent and heroic attack," said the group from Gaza. "Israel's crimes will not pass without a reaction of resistance."
Initial investigations into the incident indicated that those responsible for the attack acted alone without backing from any organization.
Gonen's uncle called the deceased "the best kid in the world" and said that he is survived by his mother and four brothers.
The attack occurred on the first Friday of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan but prayers at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque which police said were attended by about 80,000 worshippers, passed without incident.
Two Border Police officers - a man and a woman - were wounded last month in a vehicular terror attack in Jerusalem, on the ascent to the Mount of Olives. If proved to have been nationalistically motivated, Friday's attack would be the first on Israelis in the last month.
Two Israeli victims were traveling near the settlement of Dolev when a Palestinian fired at them and their vehicle at point-blank range; Hamas welcomes attack but doesn't claim responsibility.
Danny Gonen (25), a resident of Lod, was officially proclaimed dead at Tel HaShomer Hospital on Friday after being critically wounded in a shooting attack along a dirt road near the Israeli settlement of Dolev in the West Bank.
Gonen and another 25-year-old Israelis were traveling in the area inside a vehicle when a Palestinian signaled for them to stop as if to ask for help before firing on them from point-blank range. Magen David Adom and a large number of IDF troops were rushed to the area which was cordoned off as searches began for a suspect.
Magen David Adom confirmed that both of the victims were evacuated for medical care at Tel HaShomer hospital, one in critical condition by helicopter and one by ambulance.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the exact circumstances of the shooting are unclear but that police suspect it was a "terror attack."
Hamas welcomed the attack, but fell short of taking responsibility for organizing or carrying out the shooting.
"We welcome the excellent and heroic attack," said the group from Gaza. "Israel's crimes will not pass without a reaction of resistance."
Initial investigations into the incident indicated that those responsible for the attack acted alone without backing from any organization.
Gonen's uncle called the deceased "the best kid in the world" and said that he is survived by his mother and four brothers.
The attack occurred on the first Friday of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan but prayers at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque which police said were attended by about 80,000 worshippers, passed without incident.
Two Border Police officers - a man and a woman - were wounded last month in a vehicular terror attack in Jerusalem, on the ascent to the Mount of Olives. If proved to have been nationalistically motivated, Friday's attack would be the first on Israelis in the last month.
A group of extremist Jewish settlers on Thursday afternoon blocked the main road near the junction of Yitzhar settlement, south of Nablus city, and embarked on throwing stones at passing Palestinian vehicles.
Some cars sustained damage in the attack and a traffic accident reportedly happened.
Meanwhile, a large number of Israeli troops intervened and spread along the road to Hawara junction, according to eyewitnesses.
Some cars sustained damage in the attack and a traffic accident reportedly happened.
Meanwhile, a large number of Israeli troops intervened and spread along the road to Hawara junction, according to eyewitnesses.
|
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.