Israeli Church Set Fire in Possible Extremist Arson Attack

[oberliner]

TABGHA, Israel — A Catholic church near the Sea of Galilee was heavily damaged by fire Thursday in a possible attack by Jewish extremists.

A fire broke out at the Church of the Multiplication in the middle of the night, causing extensive damage to the inside and outside of the building, said Israel police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.

A passage from a Jewish prayer, calling for the elimination of idol worship, was found scrawled in red spray paint on a wall outside the church.

The nationalist crimes unit of the Israeli police's West Bank settlement division is investigating the incident. 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 Israeli Army Radio the police had no evidence against the youths and that they were under suspicion simply for looking like young settlers.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06/18/world/middleeast/ap-ml-israel-church-fire.html?_r=0

[bemildred]

1. Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes Is Torched

ABGHA, Israel — An arson attack gutted part of the church at the site where Christians believe Jesus performed a miracle by feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish, Israeli officials said Thursday.

A verse from a Hebrew prayer denouncing the worship of "false gods" was spraypainted in red on a wall at the church on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

"Extensive damage was caused to the church both inside and out," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

A spokesman for the fire brigade said a preliminary investigation showed the blaze broke out in several places inside the church, evidence that it was started deliberately.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/church-multiplication-loaves-fishes-torched-n377626

[geek tragedy]

2. I wonder how many houses the IDF will demolish in response nt