GALILEE, June 18, 2015 (WAFA) - The Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish in Galilee, was set on fire at dawn on Thursday by Jewish extremists, which led to injuring two people including a monk, and resulting in considerable damage to valuable property.
The fire broke out during
the night and was extinguished by firefighters who arrived around 3AM. A video which was
published on the internet revealed the degree of damage that befell much of the
cloister located in front of the historical church.
WAFA correspondent said that
the fire destroyed the prayer halls, reception and storage areas. Aside from
the property damage, an elderly Benedictine monk and a young volunteer who were
in the Church were injured and transported to the hospital to be immediately
treated from toxic smoke inhalation.
Several other people
suffered from smoke inhalation and suffocation while trying to put out the
arson before the firefighters arrived.
According to a press
statement published on the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the losses of
the church were estimated at several million shekels.
As shown in the video, “Hebrew
words were spray painted on the walls – drawn from the text of praise recited
three times a day by observant Jews “Aleinou LeShabeah”, a request for God to
destroy the idols and pagans,” said the Patriarchate.
This is not the first time
that this church was targeted by Jewish extremists; it was vandalized in April
2014, when the cross and altar were the target of a barrage of stones and
spitting by a gang of young Jews between the ages of 13 and 15.
The Patriarchate said, “This
new event does not promote peace among peoples of all religions. Furthermore, this act of violence does not
encourage pilgrims and tourists, very present in Tabgha, to visit the Holy
Land.”
It added, “Voices are
already rising, as the political sphere of the Christian community seek an
urgent and speedy investigation to strongly condemn the perpetrators of this
vicious and disgraceful madness.”
Fateh's Revolutionary
Council Member Dimitri Diliani told WAFA that the attack against this church is
a practical translation to the positions of the occupation government which
holds full responsibility for this terrorist crime.”
He said that Israeli
government financially supports the Jewish terrorist groups by providing fiscal
budgets to the institutions and religious schools which shelter them and plant
a terrorist mindset.
Diliani noted that the
Israeli government provides these terrorists with the legal protection by
refusing to recognize these groups as terrorist, despite acting as ones.
Meanwhile, þWadi Abu
Nassar, a senior advisor to the Catholic Church held Israel fully responsible
for the ongoing scenario of attacks by Jewish extremists on both Muslim and
Christian religious sites.
He told WAFA, “There is a
security malfunction by not pursuing the criminals and assailants to charge
them for attacking religious sites, despite ongoing claims that police
investigations are being opened.”
As for the value of the
church which was burned, Abu Nassar said that it is considered a historical
site and a shrine frequently visited by Christians from around the world for
being associated with Jesus Christ and the miracle of fish and bread.
Israeli Knesset Member, Basel
Ghattas condemned the arson and the actions of terrorist “price tag” groups and
demanded the Israeli government to investigate this crime and locate those
responsible for it.
Hanna Issa, the Secretary
General of the Islamic-Christian Committee called for the protection of
religious sites in Palestine, both Muslim and Christian, and held the Israeli
government responsible for these ongoing violations.
Moreover, Minister of Awqaf
and Religious Affairs, Sheikh Yousef Adeis said that the attack against this
church is not an individual and uncalculated act, but an action done with the
protection of the Israeli government.
According to the Latin Patriarchate
of Jerusalem, the Patriarchal Vicar in Israel, Bishop Giacinto Marcuzzo has
already visited the Benedictine community and the site early in the morning for
preliminary inspection.
The Assembly of Catholic
Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL) hasn’t released a statement yet regarding
the incident.
M.H
