1 convicted, 1 acquitted over 2015 arson at ‘loaves and fishes’ church

The Nazareth District Court convicts 22-year-old Yinon Reuveni for the 2015 arson attack by a group of Jewish extremists that heavily damaged a church in northern Israel where Christians believe Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge George Azulay acquits 21-year-old Yehuda Asraf, who was accused of assisting Reuveni in setting the church building fire.

Two rooms of the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes in Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee were vandalized and badly damaged in the fire two years ago.

The complex reopened to pilgrims in February this year following eight months of renovation work at a cost of around one million dollars, of which the State of Israel contributed almost $400,000.