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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Israel to compensate church torched by extremists |
| 2015-09-23 |
| [ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Israel will pay damages to the church where Christians believe Jesus performed the miracle of loaves and fishes, after an arson attack by suspected Jewish Lion of Islams, the justice ministry said. Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein decided the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha "should be compensated for the damages caused to it by the arson, in accordance with property tax regulations," a statement said Monday. Two suspected Jewish turbans have been charged with the torching of the church on June 18. Tax authorities had initially refused the church's request for compensation, saying it was not clear that the attack was on "nationalistic" grounds. The justice ministry however determined that, based on the charges against the suspects, the attack was related to the "Israeli-Arab conflict" and instructed the church be compensated, Weinstein's office said. Church officials told AFP the sum requested was approximately seven million shekels ($1.7 million, 1.6 million euros). The arson attack, at the site where many Christians believe Jesus fed the 5,000 in the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, completely destroyed one of the buildings in the compound. The church itself was not damaged. Hebrew graffiti was found on another building within the complex, reading: "Idols will be cast out" or destroyed. Two Jewish Lion of Islams, Yinon Reuveni and Yehuda Asraf, were charged in connection with the arson and graffiti. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 This is nice of Israel. The place is a tourist attraction for Christians and generates revenues for the state, so probably a good investment. |
| Posted by: Sven the pelter 2015-09-23 18:35 |