Holy Land: Arson at Maronite Monastery in Bethlehem

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his solidarity to the Maronite Church following an arson attack on monastery in Bethlehem.

On September 30th, the Maronite Monastery of Mar Charbel was attacked in what is believed to be an act of criminal retaliation.

Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai, Patriarch of Antioch and head of the Maronite Church, received a call from President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, who expressed his solidarity with the Church. He also assured the Patriarch his commitment in finding the perpetrators.

For his part, Patriarch Rai thanked the President, particularly for the funds provided by the Palestinian government for the monastery’s restoration.

According to Fides, investigators of the Palestinian police force say that the arson attack was revenge for the ‘use of financing arranged for the restoration of the monastery.”