The Roman Catholic Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes in Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee was set on fire on Thursday 18 June 2015. The fire destroyed the roof and damaged the reception, storeroom and nun"s office. On an outer wall, graffiti was sprayed, reading "False idols will be smashed." According to BBC correspondents, the
graffiti suggests that "the attack is part of a sporadic campaign by a small group of right-wing Jewish extremists against non-Jewish targets in Israel." In these so called "˜price tag attacks" right wing Jewish extremists‚ target "non-Jews or their property, ostensibly as retribution for Palestinian attacks or Israeli government actions deemed contrary to settler interests." They are often accompanied with hateful and racist slogans that are anti-Arab and anti-government, including the remark "˜price tag". Since 2008 these attacks have occurred on a regular basis. According to the NGO
Rabbis for Human Rights, approximately 43 churches, monasteries and mosques have been put to fire or desecrated in any other way in Israel and the West bank since 2009.‚ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack.
Henriette Kats, persecution analyst for WWR, says: "It is a positive sign that prominent Israeli"s have expressed their outrage at this attack. That is an important first step. The next is to trace those responsible and bring them to justice. Up till now this has hardly happened in similar attacks. This is important for Israel - being one of the few
democracies in the Middle East - and also for the local Christians. Up till now, these attacks have mainly caused material damage and no serious injuries. ‚ According to our local contact, Christians in the country are not really feeling in danger yet but deem it necessary to speak out against such actions."
