The Israel Police announced Monday that, contrary to previous reports, the Church of Saint George in the Christian village of Tabyeh was not damaged by a nearby fire.
"Contrary to misleading reports, no damage was caused to the Church of Saint George in Taybeh. The fire was limited to an adjacent open area, not the holy site. Emergency services received reports from local residents, including both Israelis and one Palestinian caller," the police stated.
Noting that they have started a "thorough investigation", the Police statement added, "If arson is confirmed, justice will be pursued regardless of race or background. Due process is based on facts, not headlines."
The incident had caused widespread outrage, drawing condemnations from U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who called it "an act of sacrilege" during a visit on Saturday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Contrary to misleading reports, no damage was caused to the Church of Saint George in Taybeh. The fire was limited to an adjacent open area, not the holy site. Emergency services received reports from local residents, including both Israelis and one Palestinian caller. The… <a href="https://t.co/eFicgMPLQJ">pic.twitter.com/eFicgMPLQJ</a></p>— Israel Police (@israelpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/israelpolice/status/1947390091099279539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async...
Story highlights • Tesla faces trial over a fatal Florida crash involving Autopilot • Driver admits he trusted Tesla’s Autopilot “too much” • California DMV seeks to suspend Tesla’s license for mi...