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Israeli police refuted allegations on late Monday regarding a fire incident at the archaeological site of the Church of St. George in Taybeh, citing claims that Jewish settlers started the blaze as factually incorrect and devoid of supporting evidence. Authorities emphasized that the reports could mislead the public.
A specialized team from the Judea and Samaria Central Investigations Unit, known as YAMAR, initiated a probe last Thursday. This investigation was overseen by the district commander, who also convened an internal committee to examine the documented timeline of events in the police database. Additionally, the committee assessed how reports and complaints were managed and evaluated the overall response.
The police stated, “Findings gathered on the ground unequivocally show that no damage or harm was caused to the holy site itself.” This assertion aimed to quell concerns over the safety of the cherished location.
The police report clarified that a small fire occurred in an open area adjacent to the church. However, officials confirmed there was no damage to buildings, crops, or infrastructure in the vicinity.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee expressed his support for the investigative efforts on social media platform X. He described Taybeh as a beautiful village predominantly inhabited by Arab Christians. Huckabee noted, “I do not attribute the cause of the fire to any person or group since we do not have definitive evidence. However, the press has inferred otherwise. Regardless, the incident constitutes a crime that must face consequences.”
An exclusive investigation from The Press Service of Israel first raised doubts about the claims surrounding the fire. This report unveiled evidence indicating that local Jewish residents actively participated in firefighting efforts near the church, which further questioned the cause of the blaze.
Furthermore, TPS-IL documented additional fire incidents occurring on July 7, 8, and 11 in nearby pastureland, situated mere meters from the church compound. In each instance, a Jewish farmer with property adjacent to the site filed complaints with law enforcement, alleging that areas where animals grazed had been deliberately ignited.
Huckabee visited Taybeh last weekend and called for accountability regarding the fire incident. He asserted that committing sacrilege in a place of worship is tantamount to an act of terror. Huckabee declared, “There should be consequences, and they must be severe, as these sites represent some of the last bastions of our shared civilization and places of worship.”
This visit followed a statement from the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, which accused radical Israelis from nearby settlements of intentionally setting fire near the town’s cemetery and the Church of Saint George.
A joint statement issued by priests from the Greek Orthodox Church, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, and the Roman Catholic Church specifically blamed Israeli settlers for “deliberately igniting a fire near the town’s cemetery and the historic Church of Saint George, a fifth-century site regarded as one of the oldest religious landmarks in Palestine.”
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III characterized the actions as a targeted attack by radical Israelis from nearby settlements.
Dan Diker, the president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, remarked on the importance of Israel adopting a more proactive approach to incidents that could negatively impact its international reputation. He stated that the current conflict is among the most consequential wars since the establishment of the state, and incidents like this fire are equally dangerous.
Diker emphasized the necessity for Israel to highlight its role in protecting Christian heritage and sacred sites in contested territories. He articulated that this entails exposing actions by the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Hamas that undermine Christian citizens while also ensuring transparency and assertiveness regarding Israel’s guardianship of Christian sites in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem.
Regarding the international narrative, Diker pointed out a coordinated effort by Palestinian leadership aiming to erode Israel’s legitimacy globally. He warned that the international media serves as a platform for defaming Israel and suggested that events like this fire are manipulated into existential threats against the nation.
On Monday evening, the Binyamin Regional Council, which governs Jewish communities in southern Samaria, confirmed that no damage had occurred to the church. The council’s international spokeswoman, Eliana Passentin, provided reassurance, stating, “I am here on the outskirts of the church. You can see the apse, and there are no signs of fire on the outer walls or anywhere else.”
Passentin emphasized that her community acts as stewards of what she referred to as the biblical heartland, asserting that there is no reason to disrespect any religion. According to her, coexistence between Israelis and Christian Arabs had been peaceful in the region for years.
However, she expressed concern over the changing dynamics within the community, which seems to increasingly align itself with a Palestinian state that lacks formal recognition. Passentin relayed a conversation with a local priest who expressed belief in a two-state solution, indicating a growing pressure from the Palestinian Authority on Christian communities.
Passentin cautioned against what she views as manufactured crises intended to sow discord between Jews and Christians, whom she described as mutual guardians of Judea and Samaria. She concluded, “We seek peace in this land. It is where our biblical history unfolds, and we should work together rather than perpetuate false accusations against each other.”
