Late Monday, Israeli police refuted claims that Jewish settlers set fire to St. George’s Church in the Palestinian village of Teibe, deeming such reports “ineffectively inaccurate” and lacking evidence, warning they could mislead the public.
According to the police, an investigation began last Thursday by a specialized team from the Jewish and Samaria Central Investigation Department (Yamar). This team, led by a district commander, was also assigned to review the recorded timeline of events in the police system and evaluate the handling of related reports and complaints.
Authorities stated, “Findings gathered on the ground clearly indicate that no damage or harm was caused to the sacred site itself.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador Mike Huckabee mentioned that Taybeh is a beautiful village largely inhabited by Arab Christians. He emphasized that police continue to seek the truth without assumptions.
Huckabee commented on the need for accountability for what he called an act of fear targeting a place of worship, deeming it a crime that deserves consequences.
Initial reports from an Israeli press investigation suggested local Jewish residents participated in firefighting efforts near the church, raising doubts about the cause of the flames. Additional instances of fire were reported on July 7, 8, and 11, with complaints filed by Jewish farmers alleging that their grazing lands were intentionally set ablaze.
During a recent visit to Teibe, Huckabee called for accountability, stating that damaging a place of worship is an act of fear and should have dire consequences. His visit followed a statement from church leaders claiming that “radical Israelis from nearby settlements deliberately set fire” near the cemetery and church.
Joint statements from priests of three local churches accused “Israel settlers” of deliberately igniting fires close to St. George’s Church, a site dating back to the 5th century and recognized as one of the oldest religious landmarks in Palestine.
Furthermore, Theophilus III, the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, condemned “radical Israelis” for targeting attacks, while security experts urged Israel to adopt a more proactive stance regarding incidents that could affect its global standing.
On Monday night, the Biñamin Regional Council affirmed that the church remained unharmed, as confirmed by an official who noted the absence of fire damage in the surrounding area. This representative expressed that despite the land’s biblical significance, there should be no intent to harm anyone’s religion.
In a conversation with Fox News Digital, the spokesperson for the council recalled interactions with visitors from Taybeh, highlighting a history of coexistence between Jews and Christian Arabs in the area. However, she expressed concern over perceptions aligning the community with a Palestinian state, which hasn’t been formally recognized.
The spokesperson also mentioned that a local priest supports a two-state solution but feels pressure on Christians from the Palestinian Authority. She suggested the current crisis is being exploited to create divisions between Jews and Christians, whom she hopes can work together for peace in what she referred to as biblical land.
